By referring the history of the research in each field, cavitation erosion and erosion-corrosion
were compared. The start of the research on the cavitation erosion was the generation mechanism of the
cavitation impulsive pressure, which brought about the damage to metallic materials. From both sides
of impulsive pressure generation mechanism description by theory and measurement of impulsive
pressure by the experiment, the generation of cavitation erosion damage has been recognized to be a
pure physical or pure mechanical process. As to erosion-corrosion, corrosion must possibly play the
leading part in the damage. However, as to the agency of erosion component and its role has not been
clarified yet. The shear force of the fluid flow is the most probable agency of erosion. Nevertheless, it is
rather irrational to attribute the various forms of erosion-corrosion solely to the shear force of fluid flow
over the metal surface.
Keywords: Erosion, erosion-corrosion, cavitation erosion, impulsive pressure, corrosion, shear force,
horseshoe corrosion, impingement attack, inlet tube corrosion, deposit attack, turbulence corrosion.
