Cavitation Inception Observations on Axisymmetric Bodies at Supercritical Reynolds Numbers

Abstract

A laminar separation on a body provides a site for the inception of cavitation. The separated region disappears when the boundary layer upstream becomes turbulent; this may occur naturally or by stimulation. The consequences of this disappearance on the values of the cavitation inception index and the type and appearance of the cavitation at inception are investigated on three different axisymmetric bodies. On one of these bodies, a hemisphere-cylinder, a trip near the nose so energized the boundary layer that it was impossible for any form of cavitation to remain attached to the body even when a tension of about one half atm. existed at the minimum pressure point on the body.