Assessment of improved Schnerr-Sauer model in cavitation simulation around a hydrofoil

To enhance the capability of Schnerr-Sauer model in simulating cavitating flows, in this study, we developed an improved Schnerr-Sauer model based on the Rayleigh-Plesset equation and homogeneous flow assumption. The model considers the effects of turbulent fluctuation and noncondensable gas. The unsteady cavitating flow over a two-dimensional Clark-Y hydrofoil was numerically investigated combined with the SST k-ω turbulence model, in which the turbulence eddy viscosity is corrected. We obtain the time-averaged lift and drag coefficients, the cavity shape evolution at cloud cavitation, and its x-velocity profiles from these calculations. Compared with available experimental data in the literature, the time-averaged lift and drag coefficients predicted from the improved Schnerr-Sauer model agree better with the experimental results than with those of the original. In addition, the modified model can accurately predict the characteristics of the time-averaged lift and drag coefficients during different cavitation conditions. Moreover, the improved model can better simulate the inception, growth, shedding, and collapse of cloud cavitation than the original model. The overall results prove the reliability and accuracy of the improved Schnerr-Sauer model in cavitating flow simulations over a hydrofoil.