Studies of Scaling of Tip Vortex Cavitation Inception on Marine Lifting Surfaces

Abstract

The roll up of vortex sheet on a lifting surface in early stages is studied. The structures of tip vortex flow, both in the outer inviscid and inner viscous regions, are examined. The velocity in the viscous core is determined and used as basis for the prediction of tip vortex cavitation. Some comparisons between the calculated and measured tip vortex cavitation inception numbers are made, and the results are generally in good agreement.