An iterative scheme for two-dimensional supercavitating flow

Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2009

In the present research, supercavitating potential flow is studied numerically by the boundary element method (BEM). Using the advantages of BEM, an iterative algorithm has been introduced to capture cavity boundary in two-dimensional symmetric flows. In this algorithm, the cavity length is known and used to find the related cavitation number and cavity profile. In order to obtain finite length cavities, a cusped cavity closure model has been employed. Applying this cavity closure model, it is possible to change the cavity closure profile and its specified length. By comparing the results of the present analysis with previous analytical and numerical solutions as well as the experimental data, it can be concluded that the present iterative numerical algorithm is reliable and can be applied with BEM or other numerical methods to predict the characteristics of a supercavitating flow. Moreover, the feasibility of the cavity capturing in a flow field with low cavitation number is especially attractive.