CFD simulation of flow characteristics of pumpjet propulsor

In this study, numerical investigations of flow characteristics of a pumpjet propulsor based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method have been presented. The Zwart-Gerber-Belamri (Z-G-B) cavitation model based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method is employed. The structured gird is applied. A four-blade skewed E779A propeller has been used to verify the numerical method. The comparison of the pressure contour under the condition of non-cavitating and cavitating flows at different axial position has been presented. The formation and development of the tip clearance flows has been investigated and presented. The structure of the tip leakage vortex has been shown. Furthermore, the radial distributions of different velocity components with different span along the axial direction have been carried out to present the influence of the tip clearance flow on the main flow.