Abstract: The aim of this research is to study effects of silt mean diameters and silt concentrations on the evolution of cavitation. Cavitation occurring in the pure water was simulated and results were compared with experimental results to verify the algorithm employed. Silt-laden cavitation flows were simulated and laws were revealed. Results indicated that cavitation bubble with volume fraction being 0.9 is larger than pure water, when silt particles promote the evolution of cavitation. When silt particles suppress the evolution of cavitation, the cavitation bubble is smaller than pure water. With silt mean diameters being larger, scope of silt concentration promoting the evolution of cavitation shrank gradually and scope of silt concentration inhibiting the evolution of cavitation increased gradually. Results showed that silt concentrations and silt mean diameters jointly play important roles in the effects on the evolution of cavitation. Cavitation nuclei, slip velocity, viscosity and roughness have a close relation with the effects of silt particles on the evolution of cavitation.

Key words: nozzle, cavitation, silt mean diameter, silt concentration, numerical simulation