Influence of water air content on cavitation erosion in distilled water

Abstract

The influence of increased air content of the cavitating liquid (distilled water) was studied in a rotating disk test rig. A rise in the total air content including dissolved and entrained air of the water in the under saturated range resulted in bubble collapse cushioning and reduction of cavitation damage. When the water was oversaturated with air, large air bubbles formed and cavitation damage was drastically reduced, probably due to both bubble collapse cushioning and shock wave attenuation.