A repetitive impact system is disclosed for testing soft material samples under controlled impact conditions. The system includes a drop tower with a moveable mass that is repeatedly lifted and dropped by a motor-driven rack and pinion mechanism. The pinion gear may be configured to fail before other components. A sample holder is positioned in the path of the mass and may contain foam and rubber layers on one or both surfaces. An accelerometer may detect horizontal acceleration exceeding a threshold, triggering a camera to capture images for cavitation analysis. The system may apply smooth acceleration trajectories and allow adjustment of impact height based on gear tooth configuration. A method is also disclosed for detecting initial cavitation nucleation by monitoring acceleration values during repeated impacts. This system enables precise, repeatable testing of soft materials and supports real-time detection of cavitation events.