Bow and Stern Control Surface’s Effectiveness and Influence on Supercavity

Abstract

The numerical model of supercavitating flow field was established based on multiphase model, cavitation model, and turbulence model. The model was employed to simulate the supercavitation flow for the supercavitating vehicle with two types of control surfaces: bow rudder and stern rudder. The influence of both control surfaces on the supercavity shape and rudder effectiveness is compared under the different rudder angles (0-12°), and the effectiveness and the influences on supercavities of bow rudder and stern rudder were explored according to the numerical research results. From the research results, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) the bow rudders have stable rudder effectiveness and available rudder angle, and the bow rudders also have significant influence on supercavities’ shape. (2) By contrast with the bow rudder, stern rudders’ effectiveness is difficult to predict accurately, and the phenomenon of stalling will occur when stern rudders’ rudder angle exceeds 6°; however, there is almost no influence of stern rudders on supercavities. (3) The bow and stern rudders joint control mode must take the influence on supercavities’ shape and the accuracy of control force’s forecasting into account at the same time. The research is helpful to the optimizing of superhigh-speed vehicles and the design of control modes.