Hydrodynamic Performance of a Vortex Generator

The performance of a vortex generator intended for a marine application is investigated experimentally in a cavitation tunnel. Several tests were made as a preliminary study to gain basic knowledge of an initial design concept. Investigations included flow visualisation of local flow and wake trajectory, cavitation inception and occurrence, and measurement of boundary layer profiles both upstream and downstream of the vortex generator. Boundary layers were measured in the non-cavitating condition only. Two upstream boundary layer profiles were tested and were found to have little influence on cavitation inception for a range of incidence.