General information
Cavitation can be very destructive to the surfaces of propellers or appendages of a ship. Violently imploding clusters of cavitation bubbles can, under specific circumstances, result in damage to the construction material. Erosion due to cavitation results in a reduction in performance and a weakening, or possibly the failure, of the affected element.
Cavitation can be very destructive to the surfaces of propellers or appendages of a ship. Violently imploding clusters of cavitation bubbles can, under specific circumstances, result in damage to the construction material. Erosion due to cavitation results in a reduction in performance and a weakening, or possibly the failure, of the affected element.
Services & Activities
Unlike the cavitation itself, the erosion damage can neither be simulated straightforward by model experiments, nor by computational methods. Therefore, the cavitation experts of MARIN's Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team use video observations in viewing cavitation patterns and apply their experience on cavitation scale effects and erosion mechanisms to assess the risk of cavitation erosion. Advice can be given to resolve cavitation erosion issues on propeller blades, shaft brackets and rudders. Dedicated model tests set-ups for visualisation of cavitation problems on rudders or waterjet pump impellers are also used in the Cavitation Tunnel to perform high Reynolds number tests when required.
Unlike the cavitation itself, the erosion damage can neither be simulated straightforward by model experiments, nor by computational methods. Therefore, the cavitation experts of MARIN's Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team use video observations in viewing cavitation patterns and apply their experience on cavitation scale effects and erosion mechanisms to assess the risk of cavitation erosion. Advice can be given to resolve cavitation erosion issues on propeller blades, shaft brackets and rudders. Dedicated model tests set-ups for visualisation of cavitation problems on rudders or waterjet pump impellers are also used in the Cavitation Tunnel to perform high Reynolds number tests when required.
Facilities & Tools
Cavitation erosion assessment tests are carried out in the following MARIN facilities:
Cavitation erosion assessment tests are carried out in the following MARIN facilities:
- Depressurised Towing Tank: Cavitation tests on propellers behind ship models
- Large Cavitation Tunnel: Cavitation tests on ship appendages, propellers and waterjet impellers
The following tools are used to study cavitation erosion:
- Video Observation equipment
- High Speed Camera
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience
The list below gives a review of cavitation erosion projects carried out at MARIN:
The list below gives a review of cavitation erosion projects carried out at MARIN:
- EROCAV a project for the EU
The following Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) were focussed on cavitation erosion:
- FPSO Green water loading
- SAFE-FLOW
Most recent erosion related papers presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
The partial cavity on a 2D foil revisited
Hoekstra, M. and Vaz, G., CAV2009, 2009
Modeling and analysis of a cavitating vortex in 2D unsteady viscous flow
Bosschers, J. , CAV2009 7th International Symposium on Cavitation, 2009
Similarity solutions for viscous cavitating vortices
Bosschers, J., Janssen, B. and Hoeijmakers, H., Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2008
Cavitation research on ship propellers
Tom J.C. Terwisga(MARIN/ Delft University of Technology), Erik van Wijngaarden(MARIN), Johan Bosschers(MARIN), Gert Kuiper(MARIN, CAV2006, Sixth International Symposium on Cavitation, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2006
Hoekstra, M. and Vaz, G., CAV2009, 2009
Modeling and analysis of a cavitating vortex in 2D unsteady viscous flow
Bosschers, J. , CAV2009 7th International Symposium on Cavitation, 2009
Similarity solutions for viscous cavitating vortices
Bosschers, J., Janssen, B. and Hoeijmakers, H., Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2008
Cavitation research on ship propellers
Tom J.C. Terwisga(MARIN/ Delft University of Technology), Erik van Wijngaarden(MARIN), Johan Bosschers(MARIN), Gert Kuiper(MARIN, CAV2006, Sixth International Symposium on Cavitation, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2006
Most recent erosion related articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
New borescope technology
Ivo van der Hout, MARIN report, 2009
Gert Kuiper retires after nearly 40 years
Helen Hill (editor), MARIN Report, 2006
Cavitation dynamics revealed through high-speed video
Hout, Ivo van der, MARIN Report, 2006
Ship resistance, propulsion and PODs
Patrick Fitzsimmons, LRS & Gert Kuiper, MARIN Report, 2004
Ivo van der Hout, MARIN report, 2009
Gert Kuiper retires after nearly 40 years
Helen Hill (editor), MARIN Report, 2006
Cavitation dynamics revealed through high-speed video
Hout, Ivo van der, MARIN Report, 2006
Ship resistance, propulsion and PODs
Patrick Fitzsimmons, LRS & Gert Kuiper, MARIN Report, 2004
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of cavitation erosion, please contact the Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team at: propulsors@marin.nl
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of cavitation erosion, please contact the Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team at: propulsors@marin.nl