Numerical Analysis of the Supercavitating Flow about blunt Bodies

Abstract

The paper presents a physical model and a numerical method which are suitable for a detailed analysis of compressible supercavitating flows. The numerical method solves a 3D finite-volume approximation of the conservation equations for an inviscid fluid with two phases in local equilibrium using a two-step explicit time integration scheme. The applied equation of state is based upon the IAPWS formulation which is incorporated in the solver in tabular form. The validity of the method and the model are evaluated by comparison with available experimental data for cavity shapes and drag coefficients of blunt bodies. Features of steady state flow fields are discussed, with special respect to the effects of compressibility.