A numerical 3D simulation for prediction of wear caused by solid particle impact

Discrete element method has been used to simulate the behavior of particles interacting with a flat plate in order to define a relationship between shear-normal impact energy and wear rate during mechanical erosion. The analysis was performed for various collision angles, velocities and particle concentrations and, it was found that the shear impact energy of particles with the plate was maximized at collision angles near 30 degrees where the wear rate had its maximum value. To investigate the influence of particles accumulation on the surface, a similar simulation procedure for a single particle impacting a plate was carried out and the results demonstrated the role of particles interactions on normal-shear impact energy and consequently on the erosion mechanism. Comparison of the simulation data with experimental data indicated that the shear impact energy was mainly relevant to cutting and cracking erosion mechanism while normal impact energy was related to forging and extrusion mechanisms. The results obtained suggest that this numerical simulation method may be used in a predictive way to study practical design problems and to explain some phenomena associated with solid particle impact erosion. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.