Influence of the Cavitation Model on the Simulation of Cloud Cavitation on 2D Foil Section

For numerical simulations of cavitating flows, many physical models are currently used. One approach is the void fraction transport equation-based model including source terms for vaporization and condensation processes. Various source terms have been proposed by different researchers. However, they have been tested only in different flow configurations, which make direct comparisons between the results difficult. A comparative study, based on the expression of the source terms as a function of the pressure, is presented in the present paper. This analytical approach demonstrates a large resemblance between the models, and it also clarifies the influence of the model parameters on the vaporization and condensation terms and, therefore, on the cavity shape and behavior. Some of the models were also tested using a 2D CFD code in configurations of cavitation on two-dimensional foil sections. Void fraction distributions and frequency of the cavity oscillations were compared to existing experimental measurements. These numerical results confirm the analytical study. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Frikha et al.