Combinations of numerical solutions for prediction of cavitation inception in flows around blades

Investigations of cavitation inception are important for marine engineering because of the assistant jump of flow-induced noise. This inception has been traditionally predicted via model tests, but their results are influenced by the complex multi-zone composition of flows, the diversity of inflows and substantial scale effects. These influences make it highly desirable to supplement or substitute the model tests by computations. As shown in this paper, the physics of cavitation inception can be satisfactory described by 2D or quasi-2D multi-zone computations, whereas the existing solvers for 3D fully turbulent variable density mixtures are not fitted to this physics. On the other hand, a 3D analysis is requested for engineering. Recommendation on the combined employment of two groups of methods for computations of inception of cavitating 3D flows are provided among with the computational examples of such combinations.