Research on unsteady cavitating flow around a Clark-Y 11.7% hydrofoil

The paper concerns experimental and numerical investigations focused on the cloud cavitation phenomenon over a hydrofoil. The results of flow visualization by means of a high-speed camera are presented. The cavitation cycles including vapour structures occurrence, development and collapse were recorded and described. Within the numerical investigation, transient calculations of cavitating flow were performed. OpenFOAM software was used. To model mass transfer between phases, the Kunz cavitation model was chosen. Turbulences were modelled by means of k-ω SST model. The vapour areas appearance, their shapes and changes in time were described and compared with experimental results. The characteristic features of cavitating flow were observed, however further adjustment of the cavitation model was advised.