UNSTEADY CAVITATION OF OSCILLATING HYDROFOIL

Bend trailing edges and erosion, which are often seen on marine propeller blades, are considered to be mainly due to unsteady cavitation caused by the non-uniformity of the velocity field behind ship's hull. Theoretical and experimental investigations have previously been made into the mechanism of unsteady cavitation and the method of its prevention but many problems still remain unsolved because of the phenomenon's complicated nature. To study the unsteady cavitation of marine propellers, the authors carried out cavitation tests on a 2-dimensional oscillating hydrofoil which presents a relatively simple cavitation phenomenon. Cavitation on the hydrofoil was observed with the help of a high-speed camera and a strobo-light. The behavior of cavities just before the collapse was quite similar to cloud cavitation which is observed in propeller cavitation tests in non-uniform flow. The motions of the cavities -- inception, growth and collapse -- were analyzed in the light of theoretical calculations, and useful data were obtained.

• Corporate Authors:

  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited

  5-1 Marunouchi, 2-chome, Chiyoda-Ku
  Tokyo 100,   Japan 
• Authors:
  • Tanibayashi, H
  • Chiba, N
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 10 p.
• Serial:
  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Bulletin
  • Issue Number: 117
  • Publisher: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cavitation (Mechanics); Cavitation erosion; Hydrofoils; Propellers
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165423
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1977 12:00AM