Cavitation erosion in vibratory and venturi facilities

Abstract

Water cavitation erosion results from Venturi and vibratory tests of fully annealed commercially pure aluminum and annealed carbon steel are compared to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in these static and flowing tests. Significant differences between the initial pit characteristics were found, which were due primarily to the different bubble sizes and collapse pressures. The ratio of erosion rates from the two facilities was larger for the weaker material (aluminum). Results were also compared with pulse height spectra from individual bubble collapse in the Venturi tests.