Stress–strain relation for water-driven particle erosion of quasi-brittle materials

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the behaviour of quasi-brittle materials eroded by water-driven particles (WDP). Determined are the compressive stress–strain curves for the material. The measured relations are approximated by parabolic regression. The areas under these curves are then used to characterise the specific energy absorption capability of the investigated materials. Erosion is then investigated by WDP with varying water pressures and exposure time. The depth of penetration, the material volume loss, and the kerf geometry are measured. Based on these measurements, the specific energy of the erosion process is calculated. A characteristic efficiency number Φ is then defined and estimated for all materials at different erosion conditions. It is shown that this parameter effectively characterises the erodability of the materials. Moreover, relations are found between the characteristic erosion parameters, such as threshold pressure, machinability number, depth of penetration, material removal rate, and the specific energy absorption capability. A preliminary phenomenological model based on the relationship between crack propagation processes and energy absorption capability is developed.