Cavitation onset in transient pressure fields

While it is well known that cavitation occurs in liquids under tension, no universally accepted criterion for its onset in transient pressure fields exists. We propose a precise definition of the critical tension for cavitation in transient pressure fields that bridges the gap between quasi-static and dynamic regimes, identifying cavitation as the transition of the bubble radius to a dynamically unstable state. This threshold depends on the instantaneous state of the gas–liquid system and, when combined with an appropriate set of dimensionless parameters, yields a self-similar description of cavitation onset. Phase maps for different liquids reveal a minimum tension required for the onset of cavitation, determined by the duration of the tension event and the initial bubble size, whereby the well-known Blake threshold is the lower bound for cavitation across all conditions. • Define cavitation onset as the transition to a dynamically unstable bubble state. • Show phase maps linking cavitation onset to bubble size and tension event duration. • Establish a self-similar description of cavitation using dimensionless parameters. • Identify the Blake threshold as the universal lower bound for cavitation onset.