Computational Fluid Dynamics as good as it gets.

S. Hickel, M. Mihatsch, S.J. Schmidt (2011)
In proceedings of the WIMRC 3rd International Cavitation Forum ; Warwick, UK.; ISBN 978-0-9570404-1-0. arXiv: 1401.6548

We present a numerical method for Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of compressible two-phase flows. The method is validated for the flow in a micro channel with a step-like restriction. This setup is representative for typical cavitating multi-phase flows in fuel injectors and follows an experimental study of Iben et al. (2010).

While a diesel-like test fuel was used in the experiment, we solve the compressible Navier-Stokes equations with a barotropic equation of state for water and vapor and a simple phase-change model based on equilibrium assumptions. Our LES resolve all wave dynamics in the compressible fluid and the turbulence production in shear layers. 

 

LES of cavitating forward-facing step flow in a micro channel. (a) Shear stress at the wall and iso-surface of the vapor volume fraction visualizing cavitation. (b) Coherent turbulence structures visualized by the λ2 criterion.