Numerical simulation of multi-scale cavitating flow with special emphasis on the influence of vortex on micro-bubbles

A multi-scale Euler-Lagrange method is applied in the current paper to investigate the characteristics of turbulent cloud cavitating flow around a Clark-Y hydrofoil, in which macroscopic cavitating structures are simulated by volume of fluid (VOF) approach, while micro-scale bubbles are modelled based on Rayleigh-Plesset equation and bubble motion equation. The numerical results are in reasonable agreement with the available experiments, and the transition between multi-scale structures is captured clearly. The evolution of microscopic bubble behaviors is statistically investigated. During one typical cycle, numbers and Sauter mean radius of the bubbles show a similar variation tendency which both sharply spike to their maxima after the breakup of the sheet cavity, and then decrease continuously to their minima before the next breakup. Discrete bubbles are mainly concentrated at the tail of the attached cavity, in front of the cloud cavity and in the region quite close to the hydrofoil suction side. Furthermore, vortices are extracted to account for the micro-scale hydrodynamics. It is found that intense vortices aggravate turbulence fluctuation, thus spalling cavity to generate massive micro bubbles. Meanwhile, the vortices provide microscopic bubbles low pressure and detain them so that numerous bubbles are able to grow. These effects are remarkable after the breakup of attached sheet cavity, owing to the violent vortices generated. On the contrary, when sheet cavity develops, the flow field becomes comparatively stable since the strong vortices travel downstream. Few micro-scale bubbles are produced, and their volume is generally small.

Automated summary

A multi-scale Euler-Lagrange method is used to study turbulent cloud cavitating flow around a Clark-Y hydrofoil. Macroscopic cavitating structures are simulated using the volume of fluid (VOF) approach, while micro-scale bubbles are modeled using the Rayleigh-Plesset equation and bubble motion equation. The numerical results agree well with experimental data and show clear transitions between different scales of structures. The statistical analysis investigates the evolution of microscopic bubble behaviors.