The interactions between axial wave propagation and transient cavitation in a closed pipe are studied. Definitive experimental results of the phenomenon are produced in a novel apparatus. The apparatus is characterized by its simplicity and its capability of studying transient phenomena in a predictable sequence. The influence due to friction is small and the representations of the boundary conditions are straightforward. Measurements with different severity of cavitation are provided to enable other researchers in the area to compare with their theoretical models. A new cavitating fluid/structure interaction cavitation model is proposed. The measurements are compared with the column separation model of Tijsseling and Lavooij (1989) and the new model to validate the experimental results.