The Pulsation Method for Generating Cavitation Damage

Abstract

Results are presented for the cavitation damage of materials by a laboratory procedure in which the cavitation is applied in an intermittent, or pulsed, manner. It is found that the rate of damage in materials sensitive to corrosion is much greater for pulsed cavitation than for steady cavitation when the cavitating liquid is salt water. The damage rate is also increased by the pulsed cavitation for these materials when the cavilating liquid is distilled water but by a smaller amount than in the salt solution. For corrosion insensitive materials there is no significant difference between the cavitation damage rate when it is applied in a steady or in a pulsed manner.