An experimental investigation of flutter of a fully submerged subcavitating hydrofoil

Abstract : Experimental results are reported of an investigation of the flutter characteristics of a fully submerged subcavitating hydrofoil. The foil suffered a catastrophic flutter failure at a speed of approximately 48 knots. Comparisons are made with various prediction methods, neither the two- dimensional nor the three-dimensional theoretical calculations yielding results of the correct order of magnitude. Calculations employing measured three- dimensional oscillatory coefficients give a highly conservative prediction for flutter speed.