ABSTRACT

In parallel with the developments in computer technologies, great improvements in computational fluid dynamics approaches enabled researchers to perform realistic cavitation analysis. In this study, cylindrical appandages which have different radius and locations are located on suction side of NACA661-012 hydrofoils leading edge. Effects of these appandages on cavitation occurance have been investagated. Firstly, cavitating and non-cavitating analysis have been performed for original hydrofoil and CFD approach has been verified with experimental and numerical results in literature. Then cavitating simulations of modificated hydrofoils with cylindrical appandages have been performed at 6o angle of attack. Effects of the appandages on cavitation formation and other hydrodynamic parameters were examined by post-processing of the simulations. It is concluded that some of the appandages reduced cavitation formation, some did not affect significantly while some of them increased the amount of cavitation. Meanwhile, the drag and lift forces which determine the performance of a hydrofoil were increased or decreased with different appandages. As a result, implementation of minor modifications on a hydrofoil without changing the characteristic profile can reduce the negative effects of cavitation.