Cavitation can cause damage in hydraulic systems due to the collapse of vapor bubbles. What is the resulting damage?

Cavitation can cause damage in hydraulic systems due to the collapse of vapor bubbles. What is the resulting damage?

• A. Increased flow velocity
• B. Erosion due to bubble collapse
• C. Reduced filtration
• D. Improved efficiency

Answer: (B)

Cavitation damage comes from the violent collapse of vapor bubbles, which releases a surge of energy in a tiny, localized area. That energy manifests as microjets and shock waves that slam into nearby solid surfaces such as impeller blades, valve seats, or piping. The result is material removal and pitting on those surfaces, i.e., erosion. Over time, this erosion weakens components, creates rough surface textures, and can lead to flow disturbances, noise, vibration, and eventual failure. The other options don’t reflect what cavitation does: it doesn’t cause a sustained rise in flow velocity, it doesn’t inherently affect filtration, and it certainly doesn’t improve efficiency.