A study of pressures and erosion produced by collapsing cavitation

A newly developed pressure sensor using piezoelectric polymer PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) in the film form was used to measure and count cavitation pressure pulses generated in a cavitating jet apparatus. Under the same conditions aluminium specimens were eroded to determine mass loss and polished soft aluminium discs were subjected for short exposure to cavitation to produce pits which were counted and measured using an image analyzer. The erosion produced was correlated with pit counting and with the pressure pulse data. An attempt was made to establish the magnitude of the pressure pulses produced. A brief description of the test apparatus used is given.