Numerical analysis of structure and dynamic characteristics of suppercavitating flow around a disc cavitator

The unsteady supercavitating flow around a disc cavitator was numerically studied using the ANSYS_CFX10.0 software under the assumption of homogeneous media. The turbulence effects were modeled by the customized filter-based turbulence model, and the cavitation was evaluated by the Rayleigh-Plesset equation based mass transfer model. The shape of supercavity was calculated, and the dynamic characteristics were analyzed. The results reveal that the supercavitating flow region around the disc cavitator is composed of an upstream high vapor volume fraction (VVF) region and a downstream vapor-liquid mixture region, the former has a stable cavity shape due to its stable stagnation vortex pair, the latter expands downstream with the development of the rear vortex and becomes ultimately a quasi-conical cavitation zone; the lift force and the drag force acting on the disc cavitator become stable swiftly in the formation process of supercavitation.