Abstract
A ventilated sheathed nozzle for producing abrasive suspension jets (ASJs) has been developed as a means of extending the effective standoff distance and improving the cutting capabilities under submerged conditions. In the present investigation, submerged cutting tests were conducted with aluminum specimens at a jetting pressure of 30 MPa to clarify the effects of sheath length and air flow rate on the cutting capability of ASJs. Under the present experimental conditions, a nozzle with shorter sheath is preferable for submerged ASJ cutting. High-speed observations show that the air filled cavity downstream of the sheath exit is very unsteady and tends to be pinched off periodically, namely pulsates. A compact ASJ can be made by using a longer nozzle mount.
