Simultaneous observation of cavitation collapse and shock wave formation in cavitating jet

Abstract

In this study, the mechanism of cavitation erosion in the cavitating jet discharging from a cavitator nozzle into a still water environment was examined through simultaneous observations of cloud collapse behavior and shock wave formation with and without wall. The simultaneous observations of the cloud collapse and shock wave formation were conducted by time-resolved shadowgraph and laser schlieren methods, respectively, while the impulsive signal on the wall was synchronously detected by an acceleration sensor. The time-resolved shadowgraph and laser schlieren images indicated that some shock waves were occurred at the instant of cloud collapse during the periodic behavior of the cavitating jet, which results in the impulsive forces on the wall. To a large extent, the shock waves originated from the near-wall region, and they induced the impulsive forces on the wall; in the case without wall, shock wave formation was observed in a similar distance from the nozzle with a broad distribution from the origin along the jet centerline. These results indicate that the cavitating-jet erosion occurs due to the cloud collapse near the wall, where some shock waves are generated and results in the erosion of the wall.