Cavitation erosion by shockwave self-focusing of a single bubble

• Published in: Ultrasonics sonochemistry 2022-11, Vol.90, p.106131, Article 106131
• Main Authors: Reuter, Fabian, Deiter, Carsten, Ohl, Claus-Dieter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cavitation; Cavitation erosion; Shock waves; Short Communication
• ISSN: 1350-4177; 1873-2828; 1873-2828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2022.106131

•An intensified collapse by self-focusing of shockwaves emitted during the collapse is proposed as main mechanism of cavitation erosion of hard materials.•Cavitation erosion occurs only for bubble collapses at close stand-off below γ≲0.2 where the self-focusing mechanism develops.•Jetting mitigates cavitation erosion.•Conditions to enhance the energy focusing and collapse intensity are presented. The ability of cavitation bubbles to effectively focus energy is made responsible for cavitation erosion, traumatic brain injury, and even for catalyse chemical reactions. Yet, the mechanism through which material is eroded remains vague, and the extremely fast and localized dynamics that lead to material damage has not been resolved. Here, we reveal the decisive mechanism that leads to energy focusing during the non-spherical collapse of cavitation bubbles and eventually results to the erosion of hardened metals. We show that a single cavitation bubble at ambient pressure close to a metal surface causes erosion only if a non-axisymmetric energy self-focusing is at play. The bubble during its collapse emits shockwaves that under certain conditions converge to a single point where the remaining gas phase is driven to a shockwave-intensified collapse. We resolve the conditions under which this self-focusing enhances the collapse and damages the solid. High-speed imaging of bubble and shock wave dynamics at sub-picosecond exposure times is correlated to the shockwaves recorded with large bandwidth hydrophones. The material damage from several metallic materials is detected in situ and quantified ex-situ via scanning electron microscopy and confocal profilometry. With this knowledge, approaches to mitigate cavitation erosion or to even enhance the energy focusing are within reach.