Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair

Kenneth H. Means.

Abstract

Erosion by solid particle impact is a common problem in many industrial applications. It results due to mechanical contact between the particle and the metal surface, which in turn result in potential material losses. Erosion of machine parts by the small solid particle entrained in liquid or gaseous working environment is a serious problem in many industrial applications. Numerous experiments have been conducted to obtain empirical relations for predicting material loss due to these impacts and to arrive at an appropriate material for a particular working environment. But with so many new materials being used for different applications, and operating at different temperatures, conducting experiments for each of them is becoming increasingly difficult. In this thesis, use of a finite element model was proposed, which takes into account various boundary conditions and predict loss of ductile material due to erosion.;An aluminum metal model was developed in LS-INGRID and analyzed using LS-DYNA3D. The Aluminum metal model was used to simulate the experimental work of Sheldon. The results of the model were checked with experimental results of Sheldon and a close comparison was observed. Several parameters such as velocity of erodent, angle of attack and size of erodent, were varied and their influence on erosion was studied. The results were presented in the form of graphs between the critical volume and the parameter affecting erosion. A good correlation was observed between these parametric studies and experimental results.

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