Investigation of Sheet to Cloud Transition Due to the Propagation of Condensation Fronts Over a Sharp Wedge Using Large Eddy Simulations

Sheet to cloud cavitation over a sharp wedge is studied at Re = 203, 000 using large eddy simulations. Transition of sheet cavity into the cloud due to the propagation of condensation fronts as observed in the experiments by Ganesh et. al., is investigated using a finite rate homogeneous mixture model. Presence of condensation front in the simulations is illustrated using the instantaneous flow field. Mean void fractions obtained using LES as well as from simulations performed without considering the spanwise variation (i.e. in 2D) are compared to the X-ray densitometry showing good agreement. Strouhal frequency of periodic shedding of cloud and propagation speed of the front is computed. The transport of vorticity is investigated using the vorticity transport equation.