Cavitation Peening & Waterjet Residual Stress Calculator

4. Engineering Notes & Physics Specifications

Cavitation Peening & Hydrodynamic Waterjet Physics: Unlike conventional shot peening which shoots solid metal/ceramic beads, cavitation peening uses high-speed submerged water jets. Hydrodynamic pressure drop below vapor pressure nucleates billions of micro-bubbles. When the bubble cloud impacts the metal surface, collapsing micro-jets generate localized shockwaves exceeding $1.5 - 3.0\text{ GPa}$, inducing deep compressive residual stresses without surface roughness degradation.

Standoff Distance Window: Maximum shock intensity occurs at the cavitation cloud shedding vortex core ($x/d \approx 30 - 55$). If the standoff is too short ($x/d < 15$), the stagnation core prevents collapse; if too long ($x/d > 75$), bubbles dissolve.