Computational Fluid Dynamics for cavitation mitigation analysis

Cavitation is a prevalent issue affecting marine propellers. One proposed mitigation strategy involves injecting water into cavitation-prone regions to increase pressure and suppress cavitation locally. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique based on the location of the injection source. The investigation employs the k-ω SST turbulence model with curvature correction, combined with the Zwart cavitation model, implemented using the commercial CFD software ANSYS. The combined model has been validated against experimental results, showing good agreement. The final simulations were conducted on a modified INSEAN E779a propeller. Results indicate that water, as the injected fluid, provides limited effectiveness in reducing cavitation.