Prediction of the Cavitating Flow on a Two Dimensional Symmetrical Hydrofoil with a Single Fluid Model,” Workshop on physical models and CFD tools for computation of cavitating flows

This paper presents CFD simulations of the cavitating flow around the symmetrical 2D hydrofoil proposed as a test case in the "Workshop on physical models and CFD tools for computation of cavitating flows". The calculations were carried out in the ENSTA laboratory (Palaiseau, France). The results are analysed according to the propositions of the workshop. Some experimental visualisations and measurements performed in the IRENav cavitation tunnel (Brest, France) are also proposed. The calculations are based on a single fluid approach of the cavitating flow: the liquid/vapour mixture is treated as a homogeneous fluid whose density is controlled by a barotropic state law. This physical model is integrated into a numerical resolution derived from the SIMPLE algorithm, modified in our case to deal with the very high compressibility of the fluid. Results presented in the paper focus on cavitation inception, the shape and the general behaviour of the sheet of cavitation, lift and drag forces, and pressure wall signals around the foil. A numerical estimation of the void fraction evolution inside the cavity is also presented