The relationship between cavitation attack and erosion of metals is discussed. Some of the causes of caviation are outlined and consideration given to possible mechanisms of cavitation attack. Methods of reducing the cavitation effect are discussed briefly as are methods developed to test resistance of materials to cavitation-erosion. Extensive references are made to existing literature on cavitation attack.
Data are reported on the effect of hardness on accelerated cavitation testing of chromium stainless steels, effect of sodium dichromate inhibitors on resistance of metals to pitting, and determination of the relative erosion resistance of alloys by the vibratory method.
It was found that streamlining, good surface finish and the use of cavitation resistant materials tended to reduce the cavitation effect. The relative resistance of metals to cavitation could be evaluated successfully with a two-hour magnetistrictive test even though no direct correlation could be made between test results and service life.
3.5.3
