Cavitation Inception Tests on Axisymmetric Headforms

Abstract

Six axisymmetric headforms were tested in the 350-mm dia water tunnel at China Ship Scientific Research Center (CSSRC) for observation and measurement of cavitation inception. Among them, three of the flow patterns were displayed and analyzed by holography. Results of the tests show that cavitation inception on the headforms was closely related to the structure of the near-wall flow past the body with different flow regimes corresponding to different features of cavitation inception. By carefully fitting a trip wire of suitable height on a hemispherical headform, it was observed that under conditions of low air content, this artificial means of boundary transition may bring about a significant reduction in cavitation inception number.