Thermodynamic consideration of the cavitation mechanism in homogeneous liquids

The object of this study is to understand the mechanism of the growth of a cavity in homogeneous liquids. The cavitation intensity obtained by Niemczewski [Ultrasonics 18, 107–110 (1980)] was elucidated on the basis of the theory of fluctuations proposed by Landau and Lifshitz [Statistical Physics (Pergamon, Oxford, 1980), 3rd ed.]. It was proved that the cavitation can be realized by both fluctuations of bulk and a vapor bubble, respectively. This conclusion was obtained by the relationship between the tensile strength of liquids and the fluctuations in bulk. The resulting cavitation probability is expressible in terms of both fluctuations probabilities, respectively. Although it is very difficult to distinguish between the nuclei of vapor and gas in real cavitation systems, it is emphasized that the fluctuations in liquids play an important role in real cavitation processes.