Experimental Investigation of Cavitation in an Axisymmetric Rectangular Groove

Cavitation in a 3D axisymmetric rectangular groove occurred in various types of cavitation, such as vortex cavitation, cloud cavitation, traveling cavitation and sheet cavitation. In this experimental study, some aspects of cavitating flow were clarified. Prediction and experimental calculations were also made for incipient cavitation of both the cavitating vortex ring in the groove and the sheet cavitation at the downstream of the groove. The calculations indicate that the observed cavitation is not vaporous cavitation, but gaseous cavitation. The results of this study are useful for understanding the cavitation in this type of groove structure in order to control cavitation damage.