More efficient ways to process materials are constantly being sought, even in the case of continuous water flow technology, which acts on materials mainly by stagnant pressure. An alternative method is an ultrasound-stimulated pulsating water jet, the basis of which is the repeated use of impact pressure, which reduces the time interval for mechanical relaxation. This article focuses on a comparative study from the point of view of water mass flow rate on material penetration and its integrity. Relatively low pressures (p = 20, 30, and 40 MPa) with varying nozzle diameters (d = 0.4 and 0.6 mm) were used to identify the effectiveness of the pulsating water jet. The time exposure of the jet at a fixed place was varied from t = 0.5 to 5 s for each experimental condition. The results showed that with an increase in the pressure and diameter values, the disintegration depth increased. In addition, the surface topography and morphology images showed signs of ductile erosion in the form of erosion pits, upheaved surfaces, and crater formation. The microhardness study showed an increase of 10% subsurface microhardness after the action of the pulsating water jet as compared to the original material.

• Klíčová slova
• continuous and pulsating water jet, erosion, erosion depth, microhardness,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The water hammer effect is the basis of technologies which is artificially responsible for the decay of continuous jets. A recently developed technique enhances the pressure fluctuations using an acoustic chamber, leading to enhanced erosion effects for various water volume flow rates. The optimum standoff distance for an ultrasonic enhanced water jet is not appropriately estimated using an inclined trajectory. The objective of this study is to comprehend the true nature of the interaction of the standoff distance following the stair trajectory and traverse speed of the nozzle on the erosion depth. Additionally, it also critically compares the new method (staircase trajectory) that obeys the variation in frequency of the impingements for defined volume flow rates with the inclined trajectory. In this study, at constant pressure (p = 70 MPa), the role of impingement distribution with the variation of traverse speed (v = 5-35 mm/s) along the centerline of the footprint was investigated. The maximum erosion depth corresponding to each traverse speed is observed at approximately same standoff distance (65 ± 5 mm) and decreases with the increment in traverse speed (h= 1042 and 47 µm at v = 5 and 35 mm/s, respectively). The results are attributed to the variation in the number of impingements per unit length. The surface and morphology analysis of the cross-section using SEM manifested the presence of erosion characteristics (micro-cracks, cavities, voids, and upheaved surface). By varying the water cluster, different impingement densities can be achieved that are suitable for technological operations such as surface peening, material disintegration, or surface roughening.

• Klíčová slova
• disintegration depth, pulsating water jet, stainless steel, traverse speed,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

A pulsating water jet (PWJ) offers advantages over a continuous water jet, such as lower liquid volume flows and pressures for deeper cuts. However, traditional PWJ setups are unsuitable for minimally invasive surgeries due to their size. This study aimed to develop a PWJ instrument by testing a 100 mm long, 10 mm diameter extension tube. We evaluated (1) the machining capability of the PWJ with the extension tube on simulated hard tissue and (2) the impact of a submerged environment on cutting capacity. Using a 20 kHz ultrasonic pulsating water jet were provided erosion 120 tests in bone cement and assessed cutting depth and volume via micro-CT scans. Results showed that the PWJ with the extension tube could machine bone cement in both open-air and submerged environments, though the latter required longer exposure and reduced material removal by 65%. Increasing exposure time improved cutting depth and volume until a plateau was reached. The PWJ was compared with a continuous jet with a 5-minute exposure time, showing no visible or measurable erosion. This PWJ design could meet requirements, offering non-thermal and selective tissue removal.

• Klíčová slova
• Atmospheric and submerged environment, Drilling, X-ray tomography, Extension tube, Machining bone cement, Ultrasonic pulsating water jet,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Continuous high-speed water jets are presently used in many industrial applications such as cutting of various materials, cleaning and removal of surface layers. However, there is still a need for further research to enhance the performance of pure water jets. An obvious method is to generate water jets at ultra-high pressures (currently up to 700 MPa). An alternate approach is to eliminate the need for such high pressures by pulsing of the jet. This follows from the fact that the impact pressure on a target generated by a slug of water is considerably higher than the stagnation pressure of a corresponding continuous jet. Ultrasonically forced modulation of a continuous stream of water represents the most promising method of pulsed jet generation because of its simplicity and practicality. A pulsed jet is generated by modulating a continuous stream of water by ultrasonic waves. A velocity transformer connected to a piezoelectric transducer is located axially inside a nozzle to induce longitudinal pulsations in the water. An extensive laboratory research program is in progress to understand the basic principles of the process and to optimize the nozzle design for several applications. The results reported in this paper show that the performance of such a pulsed jet is far superior to that of a continuous jet operating at the same parameters. Experimental results obtained with the ultrasonic vibration of a tip situated inside the nozzle indicate that using this technique one can achieve performance of the jet even order of magnitude higher in comparison to continuous jet at the same hydraulic parameters. Performance of ultrasonically modulated jets in cutting of various materials was tested in laboratory conditions. In this paper, results of measurement of dynamic pressure in the nozzle and force effects of modulated jets are presented together with results obtained in cutting of various materials using ultrasonically modulated water jets. The results are compared with those obtained with continuous jets at the same operating parameters. Potential of forced modulation of the jet in applications of cleaning, paint and coating removal from surfaces and concrete cutting in the process of repair of concrete structures is mentioned.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Recently, substantial attention is paid to the development of methods of generation of pulsations in high-pressure systems to produce pulsating high-speed water jets. The reason is that the introduction of pulsations into the water jets enables to increase their cutting efficiency due to the fact that the impact pressure (so-called water-hammer pressure) generated by an impact of slug of water on the target material is considerably higher than the stagnation pressure generated by corresponding continuous jet. Special method of pulsating jet generation was developed and tested extensively under the laboratory conditions at the Institute of Geonics in Ostrava. The method is based on the action of acoustic transducer on the pressure liquid and transmission of generated acoustic waves via pressure system to the nozzle. The purpose of the paper is to present results obtained during the research oriented at the determination of acoustic wave propagation in high-pressure system. The final objective of the research is to solve the problem of transmission of acoustic waves through high-pressure water to generate pulsating jet effectively even at larger distances from the acoustic source. In order to be able to simulate numerically acoustic wave propagation in the system, it is necessary among others to determine dependence of the sound speed and second kinematical viscosity on operating pressure. Method of determination of the second kinematical viscosity and speed of sound in liquid using modal analysis of response of the tube filled with liquid to the impact was developed. The response was measured by pressure sensors placed at both ends of the tube. Results obtained and presented in the paper indicate good agreement between experimental data and values of speed of sound calculated from so-called "UNESCO equation". They also show that the value of the second kinematical viscosity of water depends on the pressure.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH