Cavitation-induced particle–wall interaction in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids

A novel hydrodynamic effect, namely, slow contactless motion of a heavy spherical particle along an inclined wall, accompanied by the formation of a finite particle–wall clearance under the action of a cavitation-induced lift force, is investigated. Similarity parameters controlling the particle motion, determined using the dimensionality theory, are validated experimentally. These parameters are related to the atmospheric pressure, the surface tension on the liquid–air interface, the density of the air dissolved in the fluid, the particle weight in the fluid, and the viscoelastic properties of the fluid.