Reverse motion characteristics of water-vapor mixture in supercavitating flow around a hydrofoil

The supercavitation has attracted a growing interest because of its potential for high-speed vehicle maneuvering and drag reduction. To better understand the reverse flow characteristics of a water-vapor mixture in supercavitating flows around a hydrofoil, a numerical simulation is conducted using a unified supercavitation model, which combines a modified RNG turbulence model and a cavitation one. By comparing the related experimental results, the reverse motion of the water-vapor mixture is found in the cavitation area in all supercavitation stages. The inverse pressure gradient leads to reverse pressure fluctuations in the cavity, followed by the reverse motion of the water-vapor two-phase interface. Compared with the water-vapor mixture area at the back of the cavity, the pressure in the vapor area is inversely and slowly reduced; a higher-pressure gradient occurs near the cavity boundary.