Cavitation Inception in the Wake of a Jet-Driven Body

Abstract

Although cavitation inception in jets has been studied extensively, little is known about the more complex problem of a jet flow interacting with an outer flow behind a moving body. This problem is studied experimentally by considering inception behind an axisymmetric body driven by a waterjet. Tests were carried out for various water tunnel velocities and jet speeds such that jet velocity ratio UJ/U could be varied in the range of 0–2. Distinctly different cavitation patterns were observed at zero jet velocity (when cavitation appeared in spiral vortices in such flows) and at various jet velocity ratios (when cavitation appeared around the jet in such flows). A simple superposition analysis, utilizing particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) measurements, is able to qualitatively predict the experimental result. On the basis of these observations, a numerical prediction of cavitation inception number based on viscous-inviscid interaction concept is suggested.