Numerical simulation study on the erosion and wear of galvanized coatings on steel structures under the action of wind and sand

Abstract

A three-dimensional numerical model is established by reference to the erosion test of wind-blown sand. The erosion wears characteristics of the galvanized coating under different sand erosion conditions was studied using existing experimental data and the Oka erosion model. The research results indicate that the maximum erosion rate of galvanized coating increases at first and then decreases when the sand attack angle increase, and reaches the maximum value when the sand attack angle is 30°, reaches the maximum value when the sand attack angle is 30°; the erosion rate of galvanized coating increases exponentially with the increase of wind-blown sand velocity, and there are two erosion stages: high speed and low speed. The erosion rate of galvanized coating increases when sand flux increases. The erosion rate increases linearly with the increase of sand flux at a low attack angle but at a high attack angle, and then the growth rate becomes slower. The study’s results support the protection of steel structures and the evaluation of the durability of galvanized coatings.