Abstract
This paper describes observation of flow on a horizontal flat plate above a working propelle to understand the propeller-hull vortex cavitation(PHVC).
The flow on the plate is visualized with air bubbles in IHI Circulating Water Channel. It is found that the flow is divided into six patterns by two parameters, the propeller load factor, CT, and the ratio of tip clearance to the propeller diameter, c/D, as follows;
I Non-Reverse Flow II No-Vortex Reverse Flow III Aft Vortex Flow
IV Double Vortex Flow V Fore Vortex Flow VI Splatter Flow
The authors give the criteria of PHVC inception in the relation with the patterns, and discuss its vortex system.
