A study of the collapse of arrays of cavities

This paper describes a method for examining the collapse of arrays of cavities using high-speed photography and the results show a variety of different collapse mechanisms. A two-dimensional impact geometry is used to enable processes occurring inside the cavities such as jet motion, as well as the movement of the liquid around the cavities, to be observed. The cavity arrangements are produced by first casting water/gelatine sheets and then forming circular holes, or other desired shapes, in the gelatine layer. The gelatine layer is placed between two thick glass blocks and the array of cavities is then collapsed by a shock wave, visualized using schlieren photography and produced from an impacting projectile. A major advantage of the technique is that cavity size, shape, spacing and number can be accurately controlled. Furthermore, the shape of the shock wave and also its orientation relative to the cavities can be varied. The results are compared with proposed interaction mechanisms for the collapse of pairs of cavities, rows of cavities and clusters of cavities. Shocks of kbar (0.1 GPa) strength produced jets of c. 400 m s −1 velocity in millimetre-sized cavities. In closely-spaced cavities multiple jets were observed. With cavity clusters, the collapse proceeded step by step with pressure waves from one collapsed row then collapsing the next row of cavities. With some geometries this leads to pressure amplification. Jet production by the shock collapse of cavities is suggested as a major mechanism for cavitation damage.