Tecniche di Interazione Potenziale-Viscoso Applicate allo Studio della Cavitazione Laminare su Corpi Animati di Moto Rototraslatorio

This report concerns with a BEM-based hydrodynamic formulation combined with a an Interactive Boundary Layer (IBL) technique for the analysis of propeller performance in open water or operating in nonuniform onset flows. Specifically, under the assumption of attached and inviscid flows, a hydrodynamic formulation based on the potential theory for incompressible flow, suited for the analysis of propellers subjected to unsteady sheet cavitation, is combined with an Interactive Boundary Layer approach to capture viscous induced effects. A detailed description of the sheet cavitation model is shown, both for cavitating and supercavitating propellers. The IBL approach combined with the proposed cavitation modelling allows a more accurate prediction of the detachment point of the vapour cavity upon the blade surface, thus yielding a more realistic evaluation of propeller hydroloads. The present hydrodynamic modelling is applied to a translating wing in view of further application to rotary wings.