Hysteresis-Induced Onset and Progressive Decay of Periodic and Metastable Sheet Cavitation in a Chamfered Circular Orifice

This study investigates the onset and decay mechanisms of sheet cavitation within a chamfered orifice under turbulent conditions, using high-speed backlight imaging for detailed frame-by-frame analysis. A distinctive metastable sheet cavitation regime was identified, distinguished by its unique hysteresis behavior during onset conditions, with the ability to control periodicity through variations in cavitation numbers. This new sheet cavitation regime appears at high cavitation numbers, contrary to typical expectations of cavitation inception, highlighting a new potential risk within the range of safe operation for hydraulic systems equipped with control valves. Furthermore, linear growth and rapid collapse of the bubble sheet were observed, which differs from the conventional periodic behavior of sheet cavitation on hydrofoils. The new mechanism to intentionally initiate and control this sheet cavitation regime by manipulating the pressure drop across the orifice could potentially be adopted for industrial applications, particularly in the generation of controlled and dispersed bubbles. Future research should include quantifying bubble dynamics within this regime and assessing the effects of fluid properties and orifice geometries on cavitation characteristics. In summary, this study introduces a new perspective on metastable sheet cavitation, emphasizing its potential applications and importance in the design and operation of fluid systems.