Combined experimental and numerical approach for wear prediction in feed pipes

Abstract

Within this work, a combined experimental and numerical approach to fundamentally understand erosive wear in feed pipes was initiated. By experimental lab-scale testing, it was shown that erosion rates strongly depend on the material's properties and testing conditions. Steel wear was more pronounced at higher impact angle, whereas low impact angle was more critical for rubber. Lab-tests results distinguish from empirical erosion models because material dependent critical impact energies and fatigue phenomena cannot be considered there. A CFD–DEM approach was conducted for simulation of particulate flow in pipes. In addition, long term wear measurements were done to gain data of the wear progress. Although further validation and testing are necessary, very promising results on erosion prediction could be achieved.