Research on unsteady cavitating flow around a Clark-Y 11.7% hydrofoil

Abstract

The paper concerns experimental and numerical investigations focused on the cloud cavitation phenomenon over a hydrofoil. The results of flow visualization by means of a high-speed camera are presented. The cavitation cycles including vapour structures occurrence, development and collapse were recorded and described. Within the numerical investigation, transient calculations of cavitating flow were performed. OpenFOAM software was used. To model mass transfer between phases, the Kunz cavitation model was chosen. Turbulences were modelled by means of k-ω SST model. The vapour areas appearance, their shapes and changes in time were described and compared with experimental results. The characteristic features of cavitating flow were observed, however further adjustment of the cavitation model was advised.

Numerical study of cavitating flow over hydrofoil in the presence of air

“…One period of cloud changes recorded at the test rig is depicted in Figure 7(d). Details of the experimental test stand and the measuring procedure can be found in the works (Homa et al , 2019; Homa, 2018). The colour inverse is applied to better visualise the cloud structures.…”

“…Validation of the numerical grid performed in (Homa et al , 2019; Homa, 2018) shows that the numerical grid with total nodes above 160k and 270 nodes around the hydrofoil is satisfactory for the hydrofoil computations. The mesh applied in the present study is about 35% finer in the O-grid region to preserve better uniformity of the grid in places where high unsteady effects are present and to achieve the y + on the hydrofoil less than 1.…”