Comparison of numerical solvers for cavitating flows

Different computational fluid dynamics (CFD) strategies have been developed to simulate, analyse and better understand cavitating flows. Based on homogeneous models, two numerical approaches using compressible and incompressible codes are applied to capture large density variations and unsteady behaviours of cavitating flows. Simulations are performed on two-dimensional Venturi geometries and compared with experimental data. Local and global analyses are proposed and the necessity to account for compressibility phenomena is discussed.     

Numerical simulation of cavitating flow in 2D and 3D inducer geometries

A computational method is proposed to simulate 3D unsteady cavitating flows in spatial turbopump inducers. It is based on the code FineTurbo, adapted to take into account two‐phase flow phenomena. The initial model is a time‐marching algorithm devoted to compressible flow, associated with a low‐speed preconditioner to treat low Mach number flows. The presented work covers the 3D implementation of a physical model developed in LEGI for several years to simulate 2D unsteady cavitating flows. It is based on a barotropic state law that relates the fluid density to the pressure variations. A modification of the preconditioner is proposed to treat efficiently as well highly compressible two‐phase flow areas as weakly compressible single‐phase flow conditions. The numerical model is applied to time‐accurate simulations of cavitating flow in spatial turbopump inducers. The first geometry is a 2D Venturi type section designed to simulate an inducer blade suction side. Results obtained with this simple test case, including the study of its general cavitating behaviour, numerical tests, and precise comparisons with previous experimental measurements inside the cavity, lead to a satisfactory validation of the model. A complete three‐dimensional rotating inducer geometry is then considered, and its quasi‐static behaviour in cavitating conditions is investigated. Numerical results are compared to experimental measurements and visualizations, and a promising agreement is obtained. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

翼型空泡周期性流动的数值模拟及机理分析

采用基于正压关系的均质平衡流空化模型和低雷诺数修正的k-ε湍流模式,自行开发了空泡流数值模拟方法和计算软件,对绕翼型空泡的周期性流动现象进行了数值模拟.计算结果与实验数据的对比表明,空泡的宏观特征、流动特性、周期性脱落的斯坦顿数St等与试验结果接近,验证了计算结果的可靠性.空泡在大约一个周期的2/3时间段内成长,并在大约1/3周期时刻发生断裂脱落.这两个特征时间与高速摄像实验结果一致.所取工况对应的组合参数σ/2α=2.865,以翼弦长计算可得St=0.217,与文献的最新试验结果吻合.空泡周期性运动过程中升阻系数也周期性振荡,时均值C<,1>=0.41,C<,d>=0.097,振荡频率与空泡脱落频率一致.对空泡运动过程中流场结构的变化进行了分析,结果表明在大攻角条件下,空泡闭合区后的逆压梯度导致涡的形成及回射流的发展,沿壁面逆向流动的混合介质射流是引起空泡断裂的原因,回射流发展、涡结构变化与空泡非稳态演化过程存在密切的联系,探讨了翼型空泡发生周期性脱落的一些机理.     

Experimental evaluation of numerical simulation of cavitating flow around hydrofoil

Cavitation in hydraulic machines causes different problems that can be related to its unsteady nature. An experimental and numerical study of developed cavitating flow was performed. Until now simulations of cavitating flow were limited to the self developed “in house” CFD codes. The goal of the work was to experimentally evaluate the capabilities of a commercial CFD code (Fluent) for simulation of a developed cavitating flow. Two simple hydrofoils that feature some 3D effects of cavitation were used for the experiments. A relatively new technique where PIV method combined with LIF technique was used to experimentally determine the instantaneous and average velocity and void ratio fields (cavity shapes) around the hydrofoils. Distribution of static pressure on the hydrofoil surface was determined. For the numerical simulation of cavitating flow a bubble dynamics cavitation model was used to describe the generation and evaporation of vapour phase. An unsteady RANS 3D simulation was performed. Comparison between numerical and experimental results shows good correlation. The distribution and size of vapour structures and the velocity fields agree well. The distribution of pressure on the hydrofoil surface is correctly predicted. The numerically predicted shedding frequencies are in fair agreement with the experimental data.     

Dynamics of cavitation–structure interaction

Cavitation–structure interaction has become one of the major issues for most engineering applications. The present work reviews recent progress made toward developing experimental and numerical investigation for unsteady turbulent cavitating flow and cavitation–structure interaction. The goal of our overall efforts is to(1) summarize the progress made in the experimental and numerical modeling and approaches for unsteady cavitating flow and cavitation–structure interaction,(2) discuss the global multiphase structures for different cavitation regimes, with special emphasis on the unsteady development of cloud cavitation and corresponding cavitating flow-induced vibrations,with a high-speed visualization system and a structural vibration measurement system, as well as a simultaneous sampling system,(3) improve the understanding of the hydroelastic response in cavitating flows via combined physical and numerical analysis, with particular emphasis on the interaction between unsteady cavitation development and structural deformations. Issues including unsteady cavitating flow structures and cavitation–structure interaction mechanism are discussed.     

Time‐dependent turbulent cavitating flow computations with interfacial transport and filter‐based models

Turbulent cavitating flow computations need to address both cavitation and turbulence modelling issues. A recently developed interfacial dynamics‐based cavitation model (IDCM) incorporates the interfacial transport into the computational modelling of cavitation dynamics. For time‐dependent flows, it is known that the engineering turbulence closure such as the original k–ε model often over‐predicts the eddy viscosity values reducing the unsteadiness. A recently proposed filter‐based modification has shown that it can effectively modulate the eddy viscosity, rendering better simulation capabilities for time‐dependent flow computations in term of the unsteady characteristics. In the present study, the IDCM along with the filter‐based k–ε turbulence model is adopted to simulate 2‐D cavitating flows over the Clark‐Y airfoil. The chord Reynolds number is Re=7.0 × 10⁵. Two angles‐of‐attack of 5 and 8° associated with several cavitation numbers covering different flow regimes are conducted. The simulation results are assessed with the experimental data including lift, drag and velocity profiles. The interplay between cavitation and turbulence models reveals substantial differences in time‐dependent flow results even though the time‐averaged characteristics are similar. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high-order nodal discontinuous Galerkin method to solve preconditioned multiphase Euler/Navier-Stokes equations for inviscid/viscous cavitating flows

In this study, a high-order accurate numerical method is applied and examined for the simulation of the inviscid/viscous cavitating flows by solving the preconditioned multiphase Euler/Navier-Stokes equations on triangle elements. The formulation used here is based on the homogeneous equilibrium model considering the continuity and momentum equations together with the transport equation for the vapor phase with applying appropriate mass transfer terms for calculating the evaporation/condensation of the liquid/vapor phase. The spatial derivative terms in the resulting system of equations are discretized by the nodal discontinuous Galerkin method (NDGM) and an implicit dual-time stepping method is used for the time integration. An artificial viscosity approach is implemented and assessed for capturing the steep discontinuities in the interface between the two phases. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed method in solving the preconditioned multiphase Euler/Navier-Stokes equations are examined by the simulation of different two-dimensional and axisymmetric cavitating flows. A sensitivity study is also performed to examine the effects of different numerical parameters on the accuracy and performance of the solution of the NDGM. Indications are that the solution methodology proposed and applied here is based on the NDGM with the implicit dual-time stepping method and the artificial viscosity approach is accurate and robust for the simulation of the inviscid and viscous cavitating flows.     

Multiphase fluid dynamics and transport processes of low capillary number cavitating flows

To better understand the multiphase fluid dynamics and associated transport processes of cavitating flows at the capillary number of 0.74 and 0.54, and to validate the numerical results, a combined computational and experimental investigation of flows around a hydrofoil is studied based on flow visualizations and time-resolved interface movement. The computational model is based on a modified RNG k-ε model as turbulence closure, along with a vapor-liquid mass transfer model for treating the cavitation process. Overall, favorable agreement between the numerical and experimental results is observed. It is shown that the cavi- tation structure depends on the interaction of the water-vapor mixture and the vapor among the whole cavitation stage, the interface between the vapor and the two-phase mixture exhibits substantial unsteadiness. And, the adverse motion of the interface relates to pressure and velocity fluctuations inside the cavity. In particular, the velocity in the vapor region is lower than that in the two-phase region.     

Dynamics of a cavitation bubble near a solid surface and the induced damage

Numerical and experimental studies of the dynamics of a cavitating bubble near a resilient metal surface were performed. To augment the experimental flow visualizations of a collapsing bubble, numerical simulations were conducted to more thoroughly identify the collapse dynamics and analyze the flow. A bubble collapse was captured using a high-speed camera and back illumination. The metal sample was made of pure aluminum placed near a collapsing cavitation bubble at various distances from the metal surface. Width, depth, and volume of the induced material deformations were measured using an optical microscope and a three-dimensional profilometer and then compared against existing experimental data from the literature. The cavitating bubble’s dynamics and the related flow were simulated numerically using the open source finite volume based flow solver CavitatingFOAM. This code solved the Navier–Stokes equations for compressible two-phase flows using an Euler–Euler approach, including the barotropic equations of state. Bubble shapes, collapse times, and obtained damage parameters were compared to experimental observations. Impact velocities, pressures, shear rates, and various flow phenomena were discussed, providing broad insight into bubble dynamics and the induced damage.     

Experimental determination of the speed of sound in cavitating flows

This paper presents measurements of the speed of sound in two-phase flows characterized by high void fraction. The main objective of the work is the characterization of wave propagation in cavitating flows. The experimental determination of the speed of sound is derived from measurements performed with three pressure transducers, while the void fraction is obtained from analysis of a signal obtained with an optical probe. Experiments are first conducted in air/water mixtures, for a void fraction varying in the range 0–11%, in order to discuss and validate the methods of measurement and analysis. These results are compared to existing theoretical models, and a nice agreement is obtained. Then, the methods are applied to various cavitating flows. The evolution of the speed of sound according to the void fraction α is determined for α varying in the range 0–55%. In this second configuration, the effect of the Mach number is included in the spectral analysis of the pressure transducers’ signals, in order to take into account the possible high flow compressibility. The experimental data are compared to existing theoretical models, and the results are then discussed.     

Numerical simulation of the unsteady behaviour of cavitating flows

A 2D numerical model is proposed to simulate unsteady cavitating flows. The Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations are solved for the mixture of liquid and vapour, which is considered as a single fluid with variable density. The vapourization and condensation processes are controlled by a barotropic state law that relates the fluid density to the pressure variations. The numerical resolution is a pressure‐correction method derived from the SIMPLE algorithm, with a finite volume discretization. The standard scheme is slightly modified to take into account the cavitation phenomenon. That numerical model is used to calculate unsteady cavitating flows in two Venturi type sections. The choice of the turbulence model is discussed, and the standard RNG k–εmodel is found to lead to non‐physical stable cavities. A modified k–εmodel is proposed to improve the simulation. The influence of numerical and physical parameters is presented, and the numerical results are compared to previous experimental observations and measurements. The proposed model seems to describe the unsteady cavitation behaviour in 2D geometries well. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combined convection and wall conduction effects in laminar pipe flow: numerical predictions and experimental validation under uniform wall heating

Laminar combined convection in horizontal circular ducts is investigated both numerically and experimentally, under uniform wall heating. A series of experiments for the heating of water in a long horizontal copper tube are simulated numerically in order to assess the reliability of the theoretical results. Peripheral and axial wall conduction effects, inherently present in the experiments, are accounted for in the numerical model. The cross validation of experimental and numerical data allows significant conclusions to be reached on conjugate conduction and convection with buoyancy effects in horizontal duct flows. Buoyancy is considered for values of the modified Rayleigh number,Ra _qo , up to 5·10⁶; the forced convection contribution is considered for two values of the entry Reynolds number,Re _o=500 and 1000.     

Analytical and numerical study of double diffusive convection in a vertical enclosure

This paper presents an analytical and numerical study of natural convection of a double-diffusive fluid contained in a rectangular slot subject to uniform heat and mass fluxes along the vertical sides. Governing parameters of the problem under study are the thermal Rayleigh number, Ra _T ; buoyancy ratio, N; Lewis number, Le; Prandtl number, Pr and aspect ratio of the cavity, A. In the first part of the analytical study a scale analysis is applied to the two extreme cases of heat-transfer and mass-transfer-driven flows. In the second part, an analytical solution, based on the parallel flow approximation, is reported for tall enclosures (A?1). Solutions for the flow fields, temperature and concentration distributions and Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are obtained in terms of the governing parameters of the problem. In the limits of heat-driven and solute-driven flows a good agreement is obtained between the prediction of the scale analysis and those of the analytical solution. The numerical solutions are based on the complete governing equations for two-dimensional flows, and cover the range 1≤Ra _T ≤10⁷, 0≤N≤10⁵, 10^-3≤Le≤10³, 1≤A≤20 and Pr=7. A good agreement is found between the analytical predictions and the numerical simulation.     

Computation of hydrodynamic mass and damping coefficients for a cavitating marine propeller flow using a panel method

The present paper deals with the numerical calculation of hydrodynamic mass and damping coefficients under consideration of unsteady sheet cavitation on marine propeller flows. In the first part of the paper, the mathematical and numerical background behind the numerical method is introduced. The numerical calculations carried out in this work are based on a low-order panel method. Panel methods belong to the class of collocation techniques and are applied to obtain a numerical solution of a potential flow based system of boundary integral equations. They are suitable for the present application because of their short computation time which makes them applicable in the design process of marine propellers.Additionally, two different approaches for the determination of hydrodynamic masses and damping are introduced in this work. The hydrodynamic masses and damping are important in studies of the ship motion in seaway and in the analysis of vibrations of a vessel and its appendages. The developed approaches are applied on a propeller flow in heave motion. Hereby, the calculations are performed for a non-rotating and rotating propeller under non-cavitating and cavitating conditions. The results obtained from the simulations are discussed in detail and an outlook is given.     

IR measurements of the thermodynamic effects in cavitating flow

The understanding of the thermodynamic effects of cavitating flow is crucial for applications like turbopumps for liquid hydrogen LH2 and oxygen LOx in space launcher engines. Experimental studies of this phenomenon are rare as most of them were performed in the 1960s and 1970s. The present study presents time resolved IR (Infra-Red) measurements of thermodynamic effects of cavitating flow in a Venturi nozzle.Developed cavitating flow of hot water (95 °C) was observed at different operating conditions – both conventional high speed visualization and high speed IR thermography were used to evaluate the flow parameters.Both the mean features of the temperature distributions and the dynamics of the temperature field were investigated. As a result of evaporation and consequent latent heat flow in the vicinity of the throat a temperature depression of approximately 0.4 K was measured. In the region of pressure recuperation, where the cavitation structures collapse, the temperature rise of up to 1.4 K was recorded. It was found that the temperature dynamics closely follows the dynamics of cavitation structures.Finally experimental results were compared against a simple model based on the Rayleigh–Plesset equation and the thermal delay theory and plausible agreement was achieved.Experimental data is most valuable for further development of numerical models which are, due to poor ensemble of existing experimental results, still at a very rudimentary level.     

Numerical study of unsteady turbulent cavitating flows

The simulation of cavitating flows is a challenging problem both in terms of modelling the physics and developing robust numerical methodologies. Such flows are characterized by important variations of the local Mach number, compressibility effects on turbulence and involve thermodynamic phase transition. To simulate these flows by applying homogeneous models and Reynolds averaged codes, the turbulence modelling plays a major role in the capture of unsteady behaviours. This paper presents a one-fluid compressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solver with a simple equation of state (EOS) for the mixture. A special focus is devoted to the turbulence model influence. Unsteady numerical results are given for Venturi geometries and comparisons are made with experimental data.     

绕栅中水翼空化流动的数值和实验研究

采用数值计算和实验研究的方法研究了绕水翼和栅中水翼的非定常空化流动. 实验采用高速录像技术分别观察了绕水翼和栅中水翼云状空化形态随时间的变化, 测量了升阻力, 并对测量数据进行了频率分析. 计算时空化模型选用了能比较准确描述旋涡空化非定常特性的Kubota模型, 湍流模型采用能准确捕捉流场非定常特性的FBM模型. 计算模型的可靠性用实验结果进行验证. 结果表明, 计算与实验的结果基本一致, 相比绕单个水翼的空化流动, 绕栅中水翼的空穴厚度比较薄, 翼型近壁处的逆压梯度较小, 反向射流的速度较小, 且水汽混合区速度梯度较小, 空穴的脱落周期变长, 平均升阻力系数较小      

Bubble jet flow interaction during pool boiling of subcooled water on horizontal thin wires

Both visual experiments and numerical analyses were conducted to investigate the interaction between bubble jet flows during pool boiling of subcooled water on horizontal thin wires. The bubble jet flows nearby attracted each other, and they can combine into one jet flow under strong interaction. As the adjacent bubble departs, the bubble jet flow would experience an unsteady evolution process with the jet flow interaction weakening. Since the unsymmetrical thermocapillary force at the bubble interface was induced by the adjacent bubble as a cold source, the bubble jet flow would trend to the adjacent bubble, and the mechanism based on thermocapillary force and cold source can explain the bubble jet flow interaction very well. The steady bubble jet flow interaction phenomena were further simulated by laminar model, and the calculated jet flow interaction phenomena were in a good agreement with the experimental results.     

Thermal fatigue assessment of components made with particulate polymer composites

Many appliance materials are made of PMMA/Si acrylic casting dispersion. In these situations, failure can occur by thermal fatigue induced by severe temperature variations such as alternating flows of cold and hot water. This paper is concerned with the numerical analysis of the thermal stresses in three composites with different volume fractions of filler and particle size. Their trade marks are Asterite, Amatis and Ultra-quartz. Cosmos/M finite element method software was used to study the influence of the cold and hot water temperatures as well as the time of interruption of water flow in the transition between hot and cold water on thermal stresses. Residual stresses were measured and superimposed to thermal stress in fatigue analysis. Typical defects in the corner of holes produced by drilling were predicted using experimental fatigue lives and da/dN curves. Based on predicted defects thermal fatigue assessment of commercially available sinks made with the three materials mentioned earlier was done by taking into account the influence of both cyclic thermal and static residual stresses induced by the manufacturing process.