A computational approach based on the conservative form of the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, transport equation-based turbulent cavitation models and a pressure-based operator-splitting algorithm is applied to study turbulent cavitating flows through convergent-divergent nozzles. The implications of the compressibility effect, reflected via the speed of sound definition in the two-phase mixture, are assessed with two modeling approaches. Depending on the geometric confinement of the nozzle, compressibility model, and cavitation numbers, auto-oscillations and quasi-steady behaviors are observed. Detailed flow structures and cavitation dynamics are highlighted, and implications of the cavitation model discussed.

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