A simple model for cavitation erosion of metals

The effect of cavitation erosion on metals is considered. A model is proposed which offers a relative measure of the cavitation erosion resistance and of the length of the incubation period for different metals. The model predicts that the energy absorbed by the plastic deformation of the material depends upon the hardness of the material, and it finds a qualitative difference between cavitation erosion in different apparatus types. In the case of flow induced cavitation the model finds the cavitation erosion to be proportional to the 5th-7th power of the flow velocity.