Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Two-Dimensional Fixed-Type Cavities

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental studies have been made of the growth and collapse of fixed cavities in a two-dimensional convergent-divergent nozzle. In this particular configuration an important feature was a re-entrant liquid jet which invaded the growing cavity from the downstream end, travelling upstream along the wall and interrupting the cavity when it reached the nozzle throat. A simple two-dimensional unsteady potential flow theory, developed to model the cycle, gave reasonable agreement with cinephotography and predicted the jet behavior. Because vaporization was neglected the theory overestimated the speed of the cycle.