Patent Document ID: 20030019978
Application ID: 09874306
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for calculating parameters for an axisymmetric partially cavitating body having a cavitator located at the foremost end, said method comprising the steps of: receiving system parameter data including geometric data describing the axisymmetric body, a convergence tolerance, and an initial cavity shape including an endplate height, an endplate location, and a cavity length; initially distributing boundary element panels along the initial cavity shape, endplate and the axisymmetric body aft of the endplate; initializing matrices for each boundary element panel using the disturbance potentials at the boundary element panels and known boundary values; formulating disturbance potential matrices for each boundary element panel utilizing disturbance potential equations and no net flux boundary conditions; solving initialized matrices and formulated disturbance potential matrices for each boundary panel to obtain unknown panel sources, unknown dipoles and unknown cavitation numbers; computing forces and velocities at each panel from the panel sources, dipoles and cavitation numbers to obtain velocity components, pressure drag, viscous drag, and base drag; updating the cavity by moving each panel in accordance with the calculated forces and velocities and the boundary conditions; testing for convergence by comparing the movement of each panel against the convergence tolerance; iterating said steps of initializing matrices, formulating matrices, solving formulated matrices, computing forces and velocities, updating the cavity and testing for convergence when said test for convergence indicates that movement of at least one panel exceeds the convergence tolerance; computing parameters of interest when said test for convergence indicates that movement of all panels is within the convergence tolerance; and outputting the location of the cavity and the computed parameters.