Computational analysis of compressibility effects on cavity dynamics in high-speed water-entry

Abstract The objective of this study is to analyze the compressibility effects of multiphase cavitating flow during the water-entry process. For this purpose, the water-entry of a projectile at transonic speed is investigated computationally. A temperature-adjusted Tait equation is used to describe the compressibility effects in water, and air and vapor are treated as ideal gases. First, the computational methodology is validated by comparing the simulation results with the experimental measurements of drag coefficient and the theoretical results of cavity shape. Second, based on the computational methodology, the hydrodynamic characteristics of flow are investigated. After analyzing the cavitating flow in compressible and incompressible fluids, the characteristics under compressible conditions are focused upon. The results show that the compressibility effects play a significant role in the development of cavitation and the pressure inside the cavity. More specifically, the drag coefficient and cavity size tend to be larger in the compressible case than those in the incompressible case. Furthermore, the influence of entry velocities on the hydrodynamic characteristics is investigated to provide an insight into the compressibility effects on cavitating flow. The results show that the drag coefficient and the impact pressure vary with the entry velocity, and the prediction formulas for drag coefficient and impact pressure are established respectively in the present study.

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