Near-wall effect is important for cavitation of flow and vortex structures. These structures are commonly investigated in cavitation of tip-vortex leakage, but are rarely discussed in cloud cavitating flow. In this study, typical experiments and numerical simulation of cloud cavitating flow were conducted near a wall that surrounds an underwater axisymmetric projectile. The experimental observations of cavity development are consistent with numerical results and validate the method's accuracy. Changes in the cavity of the distal and near wall side differ throughout the entire evolution process. The cavity grows faster on the near wall side than on the distal side, whereas the re-entry jet inside the cavity moves slowly toward the shoulder of the model. The strong vortex around the projectile is non-axisymmetric because of the collapsing cavity, which may also affect the cruising stability. (C) 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.