Computations of the Compressible Multiphase Flow Over the Cavitating High-Speed Torpedo

Abstract

For high-speed cavitating flows, compressibility becomes significant in the liquid phase as well as in the vapor phase. In addition, the compressible energy equation is required for studying the effects of the propulsive jet on the cavity. Therefore, a numerical method is developed to compute cavitating flows over high-speed torpedoes using the full unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The multiphase system of equations is preconditioned for low-speed flow computations. Using the mass fraction form, we derive an eigensystem for both the conditioned and the nonconditioned system of equations. This eigensystem provides stability for the numerical discretization of the convective flux and increases the convergence rate. This method can be used to compute single as well as multiphase flows. The governing equations are discretized on a structured grid using an upwind flux difference scheme with flux limits. Single as well as multiphase flows are computed over a cavitating torpedo. The results indicate that the preconditioned system of equations converges rapidly to the required solution at very low speeds. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the measurements.