Analysis of the pulsating properties of a high-pressure water jet generated in a self-excited head for erosion processing

Water jet is an extensively used method for materials processing due to the possibility of operating in different environments (air, water), its safety during working with hazardous materials, and efficiency while cutting hard and brittle rock blocks. In this article, we have presented results of the research on processing aerated concrete by means of pulsating water jest. The discontinuity in water flow through the nozzle was achieved using an own-construction self-excited head. The intermittent flow had the greatest effect during operating in water environment. Machining efficiency for continuous and pulsating water jest was indicated by measuring erosive effects on processed materials. The occurrences of pulsations were confirmed while measurement of water jet thrust forces acting on piezoelectric sensor. It was concluded that pulsating water jet had greater processing effectiveness in a certain circumstances compared to the continuous flow, during the surface processing of concrete blocks.