Propeller Sheet Cavitation Predictions Using a Panel Method

Abstract

A boundary element method is used to predict the time-dependent cavitation on a propeller subject to nonaxisymmetric inflow. The convergence of the method is studied. The predicted cavities agree well with those observed in CAPREX, an experiment performed at MIT’s variable pressure water tunnel. The method is modified so that prediction of cavities detaching at mid-chord regions is possible. An algorithm for predicting the cavity detachment location on the blade is described and applied on a blade geometry which exhibits mid-chord cavitation.