Cavitation Erosion of Carbon Steel in Two-Stage Tests

Two-stage cavitation erosion tests were performed using carbon steel samples (S15C and S55C) with a vibratory apparatus in seawater and distilled water. The mass loss of carbon steel samples by cavitation erosion is reduced remarkably when the test solution is changed to distilled water from seawater. However, the maximum volume loss rate (MDER) that occurs when the experimental environment is changed to seawater from distilled water is markedly higher because of corrosive action and mechanical disruption, and their synergistic effects. Changes in the environment demand consideration of the fluid mechanics because mass loss increases remarkably when the environment is changed repeatedly to seawater from distilled water.