Abstract
Cavitation related erosion damages on semi-spade rudder generally occur at around leading edge of lower-face and behind gap of lower pintle. To get the idea of gap entrance profile for the latter case, a series of tests with large models has been carried out at MOERI. In the tests, the flow pattern around lower pintle have been investigated and visualized by high speed camera. Additionally, cavitation inception tests and pressure measurements have also been conducted for better comparison. As a result a new model (F rudder) has been developed. The new model turned out to have stable pressure distribution along the surface and so the cavitation inception speeds within ${\pm}5^{\circ}$ of rudder angle were delayed approx. 4 knots in average.
