Experimental investigation of vortex-ring cavitation

Abstract

Vortex-ring cavitation occurs when the pressure inside a torus-shaped core of a vortex ring falls below the vapor pressure of the ambient liquid. By generating a vapor bubble in a rigid tube, a toroidal cavity can be produced outside the tube. The pulsation and propagation behaviors of vortex-ring cavitation are studied using a high-speed video camera and a hydrophone. The experimental results show that the cavity continues to oscillate with a period that depends heavily on the maximal cross-section radius of the cavity and circulation of the vortex flow, under the influence of the surrounding vortex flow field. It is also shown that the cross-radial oscillation of the toroidal cavity can be measured both by a high-speed camera and hydrophone. Moreover, three different methods for estimating the circulation are compared to propose an accurate model of toroidal cavity oscillation. The phenomenon of a toroidal cavity impinging on a fixed wall is also investigated.