Empirical optimization of sponge layers for enhanced accuracy in simulations of compressible cavitation

A numerical method for implementing sponge layer boundary conditions in compressible cavitating flows using the homogeneous mixture approach has been validated, which can effectively absorb the non-physical boundary reflection. For that, a set of more robust formulations have been developed and inte...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Chen, Jian, Escaler Puigoriol, Francesc Xavier|||0000-0002-9374-7749
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/450854
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/450854
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2026.124263
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Sponge layer
Numerical robustness
Homogeneous mixture model
Compressible cavitation
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria mecànica::Mecànica de fluids
Descripción
Sumario:A numerical method for implementing sponge layer boundary conditions in compressible cavitating flows using the homogeneous mixture approach has been validated, which can effectively absorb the non-physical boundary reflection. For that, a set of more robust formulations have been developed and integrated into the commercial numerical solver ANSYS Fluent®. A numerical assessment of their design tunable parameters, such as time step, sponge layer length, and sound speed, has been conducted for optimization. As a result, a novel non-dimensional coefficient combining these parameters has been introduced. Then, well-defined test cases, such as a 1D compressible cavitating Sod shock tube using the equation of state, a quasi-3D cavitation bubble collapse, and the cavitating flow behind a wedge employing a transport equation model have been used for validation. The results obtained with the optimized sponge layers are promising and they suggest that low reflection levels (<0.1 %) can be achieved when the value of this non-dimensional coefficient is higher than 6. In summary, the optimized sponge layer model has shown good efficiency and robustness in the simulation of compressible cavitating flows.