Computational investigation of cavitation on a semi-spade rudder

This article examines noncavitating and cavitating flow fields around a semi-spade rudder in the ship wake and propeller slipstream based on a computational method. The article seeks to explain the erosion that can occur around the gap due to cavitation; such erosion has been reported to occur while a ship is at sea. Another area of research is the effect of the gap size and shape. The effects of erosion-evading devices such as elongated gap edges, an increased edge radius, flow control projections, and vertical and horizontal guide plates were also studied.