Three-dimensional linear analysis of rotating cavitation in inducers using an annular cascade model

A three-dimensional linear analysis of rotating cavitation is carried out using an annular cascade model. The purpose is to investigate three-dimensional effects of cavitation, including the radial change of peripheral velocity and the hub/tip ratio of the impeller, on rotating cavitation in inducers. A semi-actuator disk method is employed. It is assumed that the mean stream surface does not radially shift across the impeller. It is shown that there are many modes of instabilities corresponding to rotating cavitation with various radial modes travelling forward and backward. The 0th radial modes are found to correspond to the forward and backward travelling modes predicted by a previous two-dimensional analysis (Tsujimoto et al, 1993). The three-dimensionality of the geometry has the effects of diminishing the amplifying region of these fundamental modes. It is also shown that the amplifying regions of higher radial modes may be larger than those of 0th radial modes. However, it is shown that the three-dimensionality of cavitation does not significantly affect rotating cavitation.