Application of Unsteady Vortex-Source Lattice Method on Supercavitating Propellers

A computational method (HPUF-3A) for the prediction of unsteady propeller blade sheet cavitation is applied to the analysis of supercavitating propellers in steady flow. The method is incorporating a vortex and source lattice scheme. To allow for the treatment of very long supercavities, improvements were introduced in the cavity extent iteration algorithm and in the force calculation procedure. The modeling of the separated flow behind trailing edges with non-zero thickness (very often the case for supercavitating blade sections) was also included. Results of this method are extensively validated and compared with those of another method, as well as with measurements from a supercavitating propeller experiment.