Numerical analysis of basic base-ventilated supercavitating hydrofoil sections

A numerical analysis of the inviscid flow over base-ventilated intercepted hydrofoils is presented. The low-order, non-linear boundary element formulation used is described along with the significant issues concerning the modelling of supercavities with this method. The use of transom-mounted interceptors is well established for the manoeuvring and trim control of high-speed vessels. The flow field over a forward-facing step at the trailing edge of a blunt-based hydrofoil section, with consequent cavity detachment from the outer edge of the step, is similar to that of the transom-mounted interceptor operating at high speed with free surface detachment from the outer edge. Due to this similarity, the term ‘intercepted’ hydrofoil is used to describe this arrangement. The results presented show that a number of geometric parameters, in particular thickness, leading-edge radius and trailing-edge slope, have a significant effect on the hydrodynamic performance of base-ventilated intercepted hydrofoils.