Key Factors to Induce Cavitation-Erosion

Abstract

Extended Abstract ABSTRACT The cavitation-erosion is induced by the collapse of bubbles in water. Therefore it should mainly be attributed to the fluid flow. However, the effects from the micro particles in water, solid wall surface topography and material physical characteristics on the cavitation-erosion have been reported here, and the experiment results have proved that they are key factors to induce cavitation-erosion. INTRODUCTION The cavitation-erosion is induced by the collapse of bubbles in water. Cavitation increases fluid's resistance and then leads to loss of mechanical efficiency. The cavitation-erosion in turbo-machinery, ship propellers and nearby naval structures leads to corrosion and pitting of metal surface and unwanted cavitation noise. Researchers have been thought that erosive damage of underwater vehicles is induced directly by cavitation. The generation of cavitation-erosion involves bubbles or cavities generation, collapse of bubbles and material damage induced by the micro-jets and shockwaves [1-2]. However, there are seldom experiments directly proving the mechanism, and seldom reports on the detail of the bubble collapse near the solid wall in fluid field. Here, micro particles in water, solid surface topography and material physical characteristics were investigated and the results proved that they are key factors inducing the cavitation-erosion.