Numerical Simulation of Cavity Shedding from a Three-Dimensional Twisted Hydrofoil and Induced Pressure Fluctuation by Large-Eddy Simulation

Simulation of cavity shedding around a three-dimensional twisted hydrofoil has been conducted by large eddy simulation coupling with a mass transfer cavitation model based on the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. From comparison of the numerical results with experimental observations, e.g., cavity shedding evolution, it is validated that the unsteady cavitating flow around a twisted hydrofoil is reasonably simulated by the proposed method. Numerical results clearly reproduce the cavity shedding process, such as cavity development, breaking-off and collapsing in the downstream. Regarding vapor shedding in the cavitating flow around three-dimensional foils, it is primarily attributed to the effect of the re-entrant flow consisting of a re-entrant jet and a pair of side-entrant jets. Formation of the re-entrant jet in the rear part of an attached cavity is affected by collapse of the last shedding vapor. Numerical results also show that the cavity shedding causes the surface pressure fluctuation of the hydrofoil and the force vibration. Accompanying the cavity evolution, the wave of pressure fluctuation propagates in two directions, namely, from the leading edge of the foil to the trailing edge and from the central plane to the side of the hydrofoil along the span. It is seen that the large pressure fluctuation occurs at the central part of the hydrofoil, where the flow incidence is larger.