Cavitation characteristics of pit structure in ultrasonic field

Bubble collecting, bubble holding and micro-bubble ejecting characteristics of pit structure and the influence of cavitation bubble on the development of erosion pit are investigated by means of high-speed photography experiments. Pits tend to collect and hold wandering cavitation bubbles. The air holding phenomenon of pits can be a destination of the incubation period in the process of cavitation erosion. The holding bubble tends to eject micro-bubbles from the top of holding cavitation bubble, making the pit a source of nuclei. With bubbles being held in pits, the diameters of pits increase rapidly. But in the given experiment condition, there is a specific stable value beyond which the diameter of pits will not increase. This characteristic will be helpful in understanding and predicting the cavitation erosion process. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (“973” Program) (Grant No. 2007CB714105) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50539060)