Flow visualization by cavitation on axisymmetric bodies

By using the flow visualization technique by cavitation, unsteady flow past spheres and a hemispherical nosed body is visualized. Vortex shedding from spheres is studied in the Reynolds number range from 90,000 to 780,000 at free-stream turbulence levels of 0.1%, 1.35%, and 1.93%. At the low turbulence level, above the upper critical Reynolds number, periodic vortex sheddings are observed, but at the high turbulence level periodic vortex sheddings are not observed. At a Reynolds number less than the upper critical Reynolds number, the Strouhal number and the wake configuration coincide with those observed by Achenbach (1974). The separation bubbles on both models are visualized.