Variable Shape Cavitator Design for a

Supercavitating Torpedo

E. Alyanak, R. Grandhi, R. Penmetsa, V. Venkayya

Wright State University

10th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and

Optimization Conference

ONR Grant
N00014-03-1-0057
Dr. Kam Ng, Program Manager
 Outline
 Supercavitating torpedo and cavitator introduction
 Technique utilized for supercavity fluid modeling
 Cavitator Shape definition
 Optimization problem formulation
 Constraint discussion
 Modeling acceleration
 Results of the optimization problem
 Suggestions for a variable shape cavitator
 What is a Supercavitating Torpedo
and a Cavitator?
* Figures are artist’s impression

Figure From a Water Tunnel Test at Penn State

Cavity
Cavitator Water Vapor “Bubble”
formation behind the
Initiates Cavity Formation
cavitator
 Two-Phase Flow Analysis
P  Pc
Cavitation Number:   1
2 V 2

1      2
r  0 Outside boundaries Given a Cavitator Shape, the Cavity
r r  r  z 2
is defined by meeting two conditions
y Multiple cavity on the cavity boundary:
boundary shapes

Cavitator  0 : No Flux
shape
Cavity boundary n

x
 U  1   : Tangential Velocity
V∞  
V  nˆ  0 V  sˆ  V 1  
Boundary conditions 1 and 2
s

r
Cavity boundary element
Cavitator
boundary element

Cavity
Radius = 0.5

x
Cavitator Reentrant
jet

Developed by: Dr. Uhlman

 Cavitator Definition
y
Two Design Variables Spline through design
points
define the Shape with 0.5

a spline constructed through

them Cosine
spaced
y points
Design variable
points fixed
point
x
Resulting x coordinates

x After the spline is created through the design

variables, any number of points can be created
to define the cavitator shape

X1
X2
 Cavitator Shape Optimization Formulation

Formulation Constraint Behavior

 Min{CD = f(Shape Variables)}

 Subject to Flat Disk
P=1
  P Flat Disk
x2
 0.75   0 Cd
x1
Decreasing P
where

Drag Extended Curve

Cd  1
2  U 2

Cavity Number
Cavity Growth and Torpedo Acceleration

L
 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
D

UD = 0.6 x 10-6 (m2/s)

Re  U = Velocity (m/s)
 D = Cavitator Diameter
 Cavity Growth Vs Torpedo Acceleration

Cavitator Shape
Results P = 0.75 thus:   0.75 Flat Disk

Flat Disk Optimized Shape

Velocity Re L/D X1 X2
(m/s) Cd  Cd 
20 2.33E+6 3 -0.3723 -0.2792 0.9278 0.4125 0.4739 0.3094

40 4.67E+6 6 -0.3733 -0.2800 0.8017 0.2286 0.4019 0.1715

60 7.00E+6 9 -0.3718 -0.2788 0.7564 0.1619 0.3785 0.1214

80 9.33E+6 12 -0.3705 -0.2778 0.7326 0.1266 0.3669 0.0950

100 1.17E+7 15 -0.3693 -0.2870 0.7177 0.1045 0.3478 0.0773

120 1.40E+7 18 -0.3687 -0.2862 0.7072 0.0896 0.3435 0.0660

All Cavitator Shapes behave as a flat disk w.r.t. cavity length and
percent increase/decrease in cavitation number
 Relaxation of  constraint
Percent Optimized Shape
X1 X2
Relation Cd 
75 -0.3687 -0.2862 0.3435 0.0660
65 -0.5413 -0.4160 0.2515 0.0575
55 -0.7820 -0.5965 0.1749 0.0488 Optimization results for increasing
45 -1.1418 -0.8664 0.1140 0.0400 velocity and cavity length
35 -1.7507 -1.3230 0.0662 0.0312 0.35
25 -2.9376 -2.2132 0.0355 0.0226
Velocity = 120 (m/s) Flat Disk
0.30
Re = 1.40E+7 Cd 
L/D = 18 0.7072 0.0896
0.25
Non-Dimensional Length

0.20

Cd
Cavitator shapes 0.15
Increase in
0.10 cavity length
and velocity
0.05

0.00
0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07
Non-Dimensional Length
Cavitation Number
Suggested Shape Change
Cavitator profile for given cavity length

to
 Conclusion
Modeled supercavitating flow
Defined shape optimization problem to
determine cavitator shape
Solved optimization problem through the
entire range of torpedo speeds
Presented possible variable shape cavitator
 Thank You
E. Alyanak, R. Grandhi, R. Penmetsa, V. Venkayya

Wright State University

ealyanak@cs.wright.edu

10th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis

and Optimization Conference

ONR Grant
N00014-03-1-0057
Dr. Kam Ng, Program Manager