Cavitation Inception and Contaminant Effects

Abstract

Within a liquid, it is possible to lower the pressure to a point in which the nuclei gas bubbles will cause cavitation inception. During this drop in pressure, at constant temperature, the bubble tension will increase to the inception pressure. The difference between vapor pressure and the pressure where inception occurs is the tensile strength of the liquid. Frankel introduced the calculation of the potential tensile strength of a liquid. Studies show a drastic difference in the calculated potential tensile strength of a liquid and the tensile strength obtained through experimentation. Environmental effects or contaminants affect cavitation inception. Studying the mechanics of a bubble will help one to predict if inception, and later cavitation, may occur and to what extent.