Numerical study of cavitating flow past axisymmetric bodies

Cavitation is the formation of vapor inside liquid when the local pressure falls below the vapour pressure. Pressures may be reduced due to flow or by an external acoustic field. This can happen in internal flows like venturi or in machines like pumps and hydraulic turbines. It can also happen due to flow of high speed bodies under water. Many times these bodies are in axisymmetric shapes. The flow past axisymmetric bodies presents interesting features due to both longitudinal and circumferential pressure gradients. From practical point of view, the study of such flow is of considerable importance in both aerospace engineering and underwater hydrodynamics. Typical examples include control of bodies like missiles and torpedoes vehicles. For underwater bodies, prediction of cavitation is important as cavitation may reduce the lift and increase drag making controllability difficult.