Understanding and Analyzing Cavitation Erosion

Office of Naval Research awards project focused on damage and wear caused by repeated formation and collapse of vapor bubbles

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded Dr. Daniel Foti, assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering, a grant for his project, “Cavitation Erosion: Scaling Analysis and Characterization.” The goal of this project is to deepen our understanding of cavitation phenomena and the corresponding material responses to cavitation-induced erosion. This research focuses on the specific impacts on naval propulsors, control devices, and related surfaces, aiming to advance knowledge that can enhance performance, durability, and efficiency in marine engineering applications. By examining the mechanisms of erosion and material behavior, the project seeks to provide insights that will inform the design and maintenance of critical naval components.

In Phase I of the project in FY24, capabilities for full-scale cavitation erosion experiments were established in the William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel (LCC). Furthermore, other related model scale experiments for cavitation and material behavior and numerical simulations across scales and fidelity were undertaken to understand, predict, and address cavitation erosion. New Phase II experiments and related simulations will build on Phase I to enhance our understanding of cavitation erosion. 

The objectives of the Phase II project are the following:

(1) Conduct experimental and computational cavitation and cavitation erosion studies across scales to better understand, predict, and address cavitation phenomena and material erosion.

(2) Investigate the scaling of hydrodynamical and material properties in non-dimensional parametric space by correlating experimental measurements and high-fidelity simulations.

(3) Assist Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division in the design of Phase II experiments of cavitation erosion experiments at the LCC. 

Long term impact and expected outcomes of the project are a better understanding of cavitation and its erosive properties, characteristics of different materials, and enhanced capabilities for cavitation erosion experiments in the LCC. For more information, contact Foti at dvfoti@memphis.edu.