Effects of Boundary Layer Control Method on Hydrodynamic Characteristics and Tip Vortex Creation of a Hydrofoil

Abstract

Abstract There is currently a significant focus on using boundary layer control (BLC) approach for controlling the flow around bodies, especially the foil sections. In marine engineering this is done with the hope of increasing the lift - to - drag ratio and efficiency of the hydrofoils. In this paper, effects of the method on hydrodynamic characteristics and tip vortex formation of a hydrofoil are studied. Steady water injection at the tip of the hydrofoil is simulated in different conditions by using ANSYS-CFX commercial software. Validity of the proposed simulations is verified by comparing the obtained results against available experimental data. Effects of the injection on the lift, drag, and lift - to - drag ratio are studied and the ranges within which the injection has the most positive or negative effects, are determined. Furthermore, flow pattern and pressure variation are studied upon the water injection to determine the most positive and negative case and to ascertain the main reasons triggering these phenomena.