Assessment of Flow Fluctuation Pressure Models for Simulating the Cavitating Flow

Abstract

A numerical study is performed to simulate the cavitating flow, evaluating the applicability of different flow fluctuation pressure (FFP) models such as the Singhai FFT model, the modified Singhal FFT model, the shear strain model, and the present shear strain-vorticity model. The axisymmetric blunt-body with the availability of experimental data is selected for the simulation purpose. According to the results, the first three FFP models produce nearly similar pressure coefficient Cp distribution on the blunt-body. On the other hand, the numerical results indicate the influence of both turbulent shear strain rate and the vorticity in the flow. A slightly better prediction of the cavitation mechanisms such as the flow parameter Cp and cavity length is thus produced with the present shear strain-vorticity model. Keywords: Cavitation, turbulent fluctuation, shear strain, voticity, homogeneous model.