The recent research about cavitation jet mainly focuses on the organ-pipe nozzle and triangular nozzle.The research content mainly includes the optimized design about the structure of nozzles,the observation and flow analysis about the cavitation jet in the water,and the theory of rock attacked by the cavitation jet,while the energy characteristic of the free jet is not studied yet.In China,the research about the central-body nozzle is almost empty.For the purpose of studying the energy characteristic and the structure of free water jet discharged from central-body nozzle,an experiment with phase Doppler particle anemometry(PDPA) technology is carried out to measure the free water jet flow,which is produced by a central-body nozzle under the jet pressure of 15 MPa.While five sections with different axial distances from the nozzle outlet are selected for data process and analysis,the axial and radial velocity and the droplets of the particle size are studied.Meanwhile,numerical calculation of corresponding flow field is conducted by using volume of fluid(VOF) multiphase model,and the jet flow feature is discussed.The experimental and calculating results show that the axial velocity of high speed jet flow dissipates slowly in the air,and the core area and diffused area are discovered.The diameter of droplet in the core area is small,and jet energy is concentrated,while in the diffusion area,water is mingled with ambient air and radial velocity is relatively large.Obvious low-pressure area exists behind the central body and potential cavitation may occur in that area.The proposed research reveals the energy characteristic of free jet discharged from central-body nozzle,provides the theoretical basis for preestimating erosion feature of the central-body nozzle and also the theoretical foundation for revealing the mechanism of erosion.