Multiscale modeling of propeller cavitation flows in open water

Cavitation performance is a critical hydrodynamic characteristic of ship propellers, and it has been a key focus in naval architecture research. This study introduces a hybrid multiscale Euler-Lagrange model for unsteady propeller cavitation simulations, incorporating the effects of water quality. A uniform mixture model is used for macroscopic cavity simulation. Under the Lagrangian framework, the dynamics and motion of nuclei and bubbles are resolved. Comparisons with experimental data and numerical results from traditional cavitation models show that the multiscale model accurately predicts cavitation on propeller blades and reproduces certain tip vortex cavitation phenomena. The model’s applicability is validated across different advance coefficients and cavitation numbers, further confirming its robustness in simulating propeller cavitation. Additionally, the study explores the distribution of nuclei and emphasizes the advantages of the multiscale approach in capturing tip vortex cavitation. This research provides a strong foundation for investigating the comprehensive effects of water quality on propeller cavitation and offers promising avenues for future studies in this area.