MODELING OF ABRASIVE PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES DURING EROSION BY A SLURRYJET

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fluid flow on t he trajectories of abrasive particles near a specimen surface subjecte d to slurry erosion. In order to identify the different erosion mechan isms, it is necessary to know the impact parameters, such as the impac t angle and the local velocity of the abrasive particle. An analysis b ased on potential and stream functions led to the determination of the velocity components of the fluid in the axisymmetrical jet (normal in cidence). The boundary conditions corresponding to the free surface of the jet were included in the numerical resolution of the differential equations given by the inverse formulation of the fluid flow. From th e velocity components of the fluid, it was possible to evaluate the vi scous drag force on a particle and consequently the particle trajector ies. The theoretical predictions show that the particle trajectories a re, in some conditions, strongly deviated near the test surface. The o bservation of the eroded surfaces of the aluminum specimens was useful to verify the predictions that could be made from these particle traj ectories. The observation pointed out the influence on particle trajec tories of the abrasive particle size and the abrasive concentration in the slurry.