Cavitation effects on fluid-structure interaction in the case of a 2D hydrofoil

In the present study, we have carried out an experimental investigation on the fluid-structure interaction caused by Karman vortices in the wake of a truncated 2D hydrofoil. The instrumentation involves a high frequency accelerometer and high speed visualisation. The mechanical response of the hydrofoil to the hydrodynamic excitation is monitored with the help of a portable digital vibrometer. Moreover, a specific optical device is developed to investigate the dynamic of the cavitating wake. The survey of the generation frequency of the Karman vortices with respect to the flow velocity reveals a Strouhal behaviour and three resonances of the hydrofoil. Out of hydro-elastic coupling conditions, the observation of the vortex structures reveals a strong 3D pattern despite the fact that the hydrofoil is 2D. The maximum fluid-structure interaction occurs for the torsional mode where lock-in is observed for upstream velocities ranging from 11 to 13 m/s. In this case, the vortices exhibit a 2D structure. The cavitation occurrence within the core of Karman vortices leads to a significant increase of their generation frequency. We have observed that hydrofoil resonance may be whether avoided or triggered by cavitation development. The study of the Karman vortices dynamic reveals that their advection velocity increases (4%) with the development of the wake cavitation meanwhile their streamwise spacing decreases.