Interfacial dynamics-based modelling of turbulent cavitating flows, part-1: Model development and steady-state computations

The merits of transport equation-based models are investigated by adopting an enhanced pressure-based method for turbulent cavitating flows. An analysis of the mass and normal-momentum conservation at a liquid-vapour interface is conducted in the context of homogeneous equilibrium flow theory, resulting in a new interfacial dynamics-based cavitation model. The model offers direct interpretation of the empirical parameters in the existing transport-equation-based models adopted in the literature. This and three existing cavitation models are evaluated for flows around an axisymmetric cylindrical body and a planar hydrofoil, and through a convergent-divergent nozzle. Although all models considered provide qualitatively comparable wall pressure distributions in agreement with the experimental data, quantitative differences are observed in the closure region of the cavity, due to different compressibility characteristics of each cavitation model. In particular, the baroclinic effect of the vorticity transport equation plays a noticeable role in the closure region of the cavity, and contributes to the highest level of turbulent kinetic energy there.