A direct numerical approach to infer the required surface mass flux profile to generate a desired pressure distribution: Application to cavitation mitigation on hydrofoils

Abstract

Cavitation on hydrofoils causes noise, erosion, control issues, and performance loss. This study introduces a numerical method to determine surface mass flux (SMF) profiles—using suction and blowing—to achieve a pressure distribution that remains above the vapor pressure threshold, thereby mitigating cavitation inception. The approach involves two computational fluid dynamics simulations: first identifying cavitation-prone regions, then applying an uplifted pressure profile as a boundary condition to infer the required normal velocity. The results show that optimized SMF control significantly raises minimum pressure, enabling higher cavitation-free operating velocities while maintaining comparable lift performance in several cases.