Development of a Numerical Method to Predict Hydrodynamic Cavitation Induced Erosion

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Bettar Ould El Moctar
• Subject Area: Hydraulic and Turbo Engines and Piston Engines ; Fluid Mechanics
• Term: from 2016 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290858502

The aim of this project is the development of a reliable numerical method for the assessment of hydrodynamic cavitation induced erosion. An Euler-Euler method, as well as an Euler-Lagrange method will be extended by additional terms and equations for bubble dynamics. These methods will be strongly coupled. To reduce the computational effort the coupling algorithm will be applied to a limited part of the computational domain considered as relevant for cavitation induced erosion. An approach to qualitatively predict cavitation erosion has been developed by the authors. The extended erosion model will be improved based on additional flow details, bubble dynamics and bubble transport to better predict the erosion sensitive areas and to estimate erosion rates of different materials. The developed numerical method will be validated based on experimental data from former research projects and from literature. The coupled method will be applied to predict cavitation induced erosion in the maritime field.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Dr.-Ing. Udo Lantermann
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Werner Lauterborn