Assessment of Flow Aggressiveness at an Ultrasonic Horn Cavitation Erosion Test Device by PVDF Pressure Measurements and 3D Flow Simulations

Transient cavitation induced loads are investigated in a flow region subject to severe cavitation erosion at an ultrasonic horn test facility operated in indirect mode, both experimentally and via CFD. A variation of gap width and sensor position is used to vary flow aggressiveness. The experimental technique utilizes piezoelectric sensors based on Polyvinylidene fluordide (PVDF). Sensors are employed at the stationary specimen in close proximity to the oscillating horn tip and wall load spectra are obtained. Complementary CFD studies emulate the experimental sensor. Flow aggressiveness decreases when the gap is widened and increases towards the stationary specimen center. Results from experiment and simulation show good quantitative agreement.