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, measurement of boundary layer profiles both upstream and downstream of the vortex generator, and measurement of forces and moments acting on the vortex generator. Boundary layers and forces and moments were measured both in cavitating and non-cavitating conditions. It was found that the influence of cavitation was not significant at moderate cavitation numbers and did not adversely affect the mixing effect or the lift to drag ratio (or efficiency) of the vortex generator.