Experimental and numerical study on cavitating vortex shedding behind a square cylinder

Abstract

Comparison between experimental and numerical results of the cavitating vortex shedding behind a square cylinder is presented. The side length of the experimental and numerical model was 25 mm and 20 mm, respectively. The water velocity in the 0.2x0.05 m test section of the channel was varied between 1 and 12 m/s resulting in a Reynolds number range of (0.4-3.5)x10^5. In the simulation the mean velocity was increased up to 14 m/s with 1 m/s increment. Dominant frequencies and Strouhal numbers are reported from cavitation-free flow (classical von Kármán vortex shedding) up to supercavitation as a function of the free-stream Reynolds number. It was found that between the inception of cavitation and the formation of supercavitation the Strouhal number is not affected by cavitation. The results are in a fairly good agreement with the literature.