🔍 Key Concepts

• Radial piston hydraulic pump operation and how fluid is drawn in and discharged • Effect of inlet (suction) restriction on pump performance (cavitation, volume, pressure) • Difference between flow/volume changes and pressure changes in a hydraulic system

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens inside the pump cylinders if fluid cannot enter freely through the suction passages—can the pistons still deliver the same amount of fluid each stroke? • Consider whether a blockage on the suction side would more directly affect pressure readings or the amount of fluid moved by the pump. • Ask yourself: if the pump continues to turn but is starved of fluid, will discharge pressure instantly go to zero, or will something else change first?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what a suction-side obstruction typically causes: cavitation, reduced volumetric efficiency, or immediate pressure loss? • Check the definition of pump back pressure versus pump flow rate and how each is measured in a hydraulic system. • Confirm which choice best reflects a gradual performance degradation rather than an absolute, instant failure mode.