This paper presents an experimental investigation and a theoretical analysis of cavitation control by aeration and its compressible characteristics at the flow velocity V=20m/s-50m/s. Pressure waveforms with and without aeration in cavitation region were measured. The variation of compression ratio with air concentration was described, and the relation between the least air concentration to prevent cavitation erosion and flow velocity proposed based on our experimental study. The experimental results show that aeration remarkably increases the pressure in cavitation region, and the corresponding pressure wave exhibits a compression wave/shock wave. The pressure increase in cavitation region of high-velocity flow with aeration is due to the fact that the compression waves/shock wave after the flow is aerated. The compression ratio increases with air concentration rising. The relation between flow velocity and least air concentration to prevent cavitation erosion follows a semi-cubical parabola. Also, the speed of sound and Mach number of high-velocity aerated flow were analyzed.
