5th Computational Methods and Ocean Technology (COTech 2026)

Study of cavitation behavior in rigid and flexible hydrofoils

Not scheduled

20m

KE E-102 (University of Stavanger, Norway)

Paper Contribution Advanced Computational Methods & Applications in Marine, Subsea and Offshore Technology

Speaker

Dr Mariusz Domagala (Western Norway Univeristy of Applied Sciences, Cracow University of Technology)

Description

Active blade pitch control systems play a crucial role in maximizing the performance and energy yield of tidal and marine current turbines by continuously adjusting the blade pitch angle in response to changing flow conditions. As an alternative to actively controlled systems, passive load-control strategies have attracted considerable interest due to their mechanical simplicity, lower maintenance requirements, and inherent reliability. One promising approach involves using flexible or adaptive blades that respond naturally to hydrodynamic loading. A major challenge affecting the performance and durability of hydromachinery is cavitation, a complex fluid-dynamic phenomenon that occurs when the local pressure within the fluid falls below its vapor pressure.
Understanding the interaction between structural deformation and cavitation is essential for the design of efficient and reliable marine energy devices. Experiments on these coupled phenomena are challenging. Two-way Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) simulations coupled with cavitation models provide a comprehensive framework for analyzing the mutual influence of fluid forces, structural deformation, and phase-change phenomena.
This research focuses on the numerical investigation of cavitation around a selected hydrofoil using two-dimensional two-way FSI simulations incorporating cavitation modeling. Simulations are performed under various operating conditions to evaluate the influence of flow velocity and cavitation number on hydrofoil performance. Particular emphasis is placed on comparing rigid and flexible hydrofoil configurations to assess the effects of structural compliance on cavitation development, hydrodynamic loading, and overall efficiency. The study aims to improve understanding of fluid–structure–cavitation interactions and support the development of advanced marine turbine designs with enhanced performance and reduced cavitation susceptibility.