3-D Lagrangian-based investigations of the time-dependent cloud cavitating flows around a Clark-Y hydrofoil with special emphasis on shedding process analysis

In the present paper, the unsteady cavitating flow around a 3-D Clark-Y hydrofoil is numerically investigated with the filter-based density correction model (FBDCM), a turbulence model and the Zwart-Gerber-Belamri (ZGB) cavitation model. A reasonable agreement is obtained between the numerical and experimental results. To study the complex flow structures more straightforwardly, a 3-D Lagrangian technology is developed, which can provide the particle tracks and the 3-D Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs). Combined with the traditional methods based on the Eulerian viewpoint, this technology is used to analyze the attached cavity evolution and the re-entrant jet behavior in detail. At stage I, the collapse of the previous shedding cavity and the growth of a new attached cavity, the significant influence of the collapse both on the suction and pressure sides are captured quite well by the 3-D LCSs, which is underestimated by the traditional methods like the iso-surface of Q-criteria. As a kind of special LCSs, the arching LCSs are observed in the wake, induced by the counter-rotating vortexes. At stage II, with the development of the re-entrant jet, the influence of the cavitation on the pressure side is still not negligible. And with this 3-D Lagrangian technology, the tracks of the re-entrant jet are visualized clearly, moving from the trailing edge to the leading edge. Finally, at stage III, the re-entrant jet collides with the mainstream and finally induces the shedding. The cavitation evolution and the re-entrant jet movement in the whole cycle are well visualized with the 3-D Lagrangian technology. Moreover, the comparison between the LCSs obtained with 2-D and 3-D Lagrangian technologies indicates the advantages of the latter. It is demonstrated that the 3-D Lagrangian technology is a promising tool in the investigation of complex cavitating flows.