INCEPTION OF CAVITATION BUBBLES IN DIESEL ENGINES WET CYLINDER LINERS

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted using vibratory device in order to obtain the effects of the vibration frequency, static pressure, water temperature and depth of water between the liner and the water jacket on the initiation of cavitation bubbles.The initiation of cavitation bubbles was determined visually by naked eye with the help of stroboscopic lighting.The results indicated that the initiation of cavitation bubbles decreased with increasing vibration frequency and water temperature.In addition, cavitation bubbles initiation increased as the depth of water increased.The results also showed that the initiation of cavitation bubbles was independent of the static pressure.Results suggest that the designer should design the engine with cylinder liner vibration amplitude less than the critical vibration amplitude for initiation of cavitation bubbles to avoid the occurrence of cavitation.The results of cavitation bubbles initiation measurements were compared with a proposed cavitation inception model and good agreement was obtained.