Cavitation and the Fracture of Liquid

Abstract

Critical pressures for cavitation due to dynamic action on one hand and for the fracture, under quasistatically diminishing pressure on the other, in distilled water containing dissolved air, were compared. Also critical conditions for cavitation in distilled water under various total pressures were examined. Critical pressures for the rupture in water of equal temperature and air content were not the same where the method of pressure reduction was different. It was concluded from this fact that formation of vapour pockets in cavitation is not to be attributed to local pressure reduction alone due to dynamic action of the liquid.