Conventional jet-cutting devices rely on high-velocity water slurry jets, which cause high equipment erosion and heavy maintenance. In this paper the feasibility of using cavitation to enhance the jet-cutting process is examined. It is qualitatively demonstrated that when cavitation is introduced into a low velocity particle laden flow the erosion rate of target material is increased by several orders of magnitude. In contrast to cavitation erosion, the surface finish of the eroded material is very smooth. This, together with the fact that low velocities can be used, indicates that the process is suitable for use in jet-cutting devices.
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