Experiments on a Partially Cavitating Plano-Convex Hydrofoil with Comparison to Theory

A description of some experiments involving a two-dimensional, partially cavitating, plano-convex hydrofoil is presented in this report. The data obtained were compared to two theories for two-dimensional partially cavitating flow; the camber line theory of Geurst and the theory for a plano-convex hydrofoil which included the effects of thickness. The latter theory involves assumptions identical to those of Wade, but the solution is purely numerical, being the determination of the strengths of vortices and sources of a discrete distribution representing the foil and cavity and produces the same results as those of Wade. For a 6% thickness ratio (that of the foil tested) the two theories produce nearly identical results, both of which agree well with measurements for moderate angles of attack. (Author)