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<p>Vortices shed by the sonar domes of naval vessels have always been a concern as they are known to stay in the wake and trigger early cavitation of the propeller blades. This study investigates the influence of a sonar dome on propeller cavitation characteristics using high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based simulations. The DTMB 5415 bare hull, fitted with an INSEAN E779A propeller is considered as the reference configuration. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations are solved in conjunction with the k-ω SST turbulence model along with the Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model to accurately capture the complex flow physics using ANSYS FLUENT. The primary objective of the study is to assess how variations in sonar dome geometry influence the propeller inflow, wake characteristics, and resulting cavitation behaviour. The conventional dome configuration promotes strong vortex formation and enhanced cavitation, whereas reduced-width domes exhibit weakened wake effects and lower cavitation intensity. As reducing the width is not a practical proposition, a localized suction-based flow control strategy applied downstream of the sonar dome is proposed as an alternative to geometric modification. The suction resulted in 8.3% reduction in the area exposed to cavitation.</p>

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Assessment of Sonar Dome Effects on Propeller Cavitation and Wake Mitigation Using Localized Suction

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月28日

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  • V. F. Saji,
  • Sheeja Janardhanan,
  • Manu Korulla,
  • Lakshmi Sarada Kompella,
  • Rejith Nair Rajeev,
  • Avinash Godey

摘要

Vortices shed by the sonar domes of naval vessels have always been a concern as they are known to stay in the wake and trigger early cavitation of the propeller blades. This study investigates the influence of a sonar dome on propeller cavitation characteristics using high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based simulations. The DTMB 5415 bare hull, fitted with an INSEAN E779A propeller is considered as the reference configuration. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations are solved in conjunction with the k-ω SST turbulence model along with the Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model to accurately capture the complex flow physics using ANSYS FLUENT. The primary objective of the study is to assess how variations in sonar dome geometry influence the propeller inflow, wake characteristics, and resulting cavitation behaviour. The conventional dome configuration promotes strong vortex formation and enhanced cavitation, whereas reduced-width domes exhibit weakened wake effects and lower cavitation intensity. As reducing the width is not a practical proposition, a localized suction-based flow control strategy applied downstream of the sonar dome is proposed as an alternative to geometric modification. The suction resulted in 8.3% reduction in the area exposed to cavitation.