An efficient prediction model for material erosion caused by solid particle impact using an improved backpropagation artificial neural network

This study investigates the physicochemical processes in aqueous solutions treated with a high-current (up to 300 A) pulsed multispark discharge. Pulse length was 2 μs at a 50 Hz repetition rate. The discharge occurred within bubbles of argon injected between the stainless-steel electrodes at the constant flow rate. The erosion of electrode material during the discharge led to iron and other alloy components entering the liquid. Optical emission spectra confirmed the erosion of electrode material (Fe, Cr, Ni atoms and ions). EDTA and its disodium salt were used in order to study their effect on the metal particle formation process. Treatment with deionized water led to an increase in conductivity and the generation of hydrogen peroxide (up to 1200 µM). In contrast, the presence of EDTA and its disodium salt drastically altered the reaction pathways: the H2O2 yield decreased, and the solution conductivity dropped substantially for the acidic form of EDTA, while the decrease was minor for EDTA-Na2. This effect is attributed to the buffered chelation of eroded metal ions, forming stable Fe-EDTA complexes, as confirmed by a characteristic absorption band at 260 nm. The results demonstrate the critical role of complex-forming agents in modulating plasma–liquid interactions, shifting the process from direct erosion products to the formation of stable coordination compounds.

Abstract Subsidence is a well-documented issue in the El Bajío region of central Mexico, particularly in Querétaro City, where regional ground sinking has been observed since the 1970s, primarily due to groundwater overexploitation. However, over the past decade, localized surface deformations and earth fissures have emerged in the city’s northwestern sector, an area that, before 2000, was used for agriculture and shrublands and hosted banks of volcanic materials. Since then, the area has experienced rapid urbanization, including residential, industrial, and commercial development, as well as the construction of new roads. Beginning in 2014, residents began reporting ground deformations, cracks in buildings and infrastructure, sinkholes, and water leaks. To investigate these phenomena, we conducted geological assessments through field campaigns, UAV-based photogrammetry, and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys between 2022 and 2024 across five study sites. This paper presents findings from two of those sites, where the subsurface is composed of unconsolidated volcaniclastic deposits. UAV photogrammetric data revealed vertical displacements ranging from 0.15 to 1.2 m, while GPR results confirmed that the deformations are shallow, localized, and driven by ongoing erosion and compaction of loose materials, further aggravated by heavy traffic loads and water infiltration. Notably, the affected areas coincide with former volcanic material banks that were subsequently filled and developed for road infrastructure. Our findings indicate that the observed ground deformations are primarily the result of anthropogenic activities, rather than regional subsidence processes. Graphical Abstract The graphical abstract summarizes an assessment conducted to identify the origin of newly formed superficial deformation zones in a study area in Mexico. This investigation integrates UAV-based and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys with geological data and is presented through four key components. First, the geographical context includes regional and local scales. A location map illustrates Querétaro Citys urban expansion since 2003 (shaded in grey), outlines the study area (red rectangle), and shows changes in Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) along with geological and anthropogenic factors linked to surface deformation. Second, one of the observed problems is depicted with an image showing a sinkhole in a main road. Third, the methodology combines: (a) geological fieldwork to map and interpret exposed geological units; (b) seasonal UAV photogrammetric surveys conducted over three years (2022–2024) at five sites to generate Digital Surface Models and orthomosaics for monitoring deformation; and (c) multi-frequency GPR surveys at three locations to detect subsurface discontinuities that may contribute to instability. Fourth, the findings focus on two of the five monitored sites, where similar deformation patterns were observed. These are linked to the inadequate compaction of fill material used to reclaim abandoned open-pit quarries composed of volcaniclastic deposits. Roads built over these reclaimed sites are now showing signs of surface rupture and displacement, confirmed by satellite imagery. The study concludes that the observed ground deformation at these sites is not due to natural subsidence but rather to human-induced ground instability. This suggests a high risk of continued surface rupture, emphasizing the importance of considering anthropogenic factors in urban development planning.

Abstract. Retrogressive Thaw Slumps (RTS) are slope failures triggered by permafrost thaw that occur in ground-ice-rich regions of the Arctic and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). A strong warming trend has amplified RTS activity on the QTP in recent years. Although the region currently acts as a carbon sink, its permafrost-covered area (40 %) contains substantial soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Intensifying thaw-driven mass wasting may transform the QTP into a net carbon source by mobilising previously frozen SOC and enhancing decomposition. Yet, regional remote sensing studies have not yet quantified RTS mass wasting, including material erosion volumes and associated SOC mobilisation. Analysing time-series data from digital elevation models (DEMs) enables direct observation of RTS activity by measuring changes in active area, eroded material volume, and the overall magnitude of surface change. However, most available DEM sources lack the spatial resolution and temporal frequency required for comprehensive RTS monitoring. In contrast, optical data provide higher spatial resolution and more frequent observations, but lack elevation information. Here, we evaluated RTS mass wasting across the QTP from 2011 to 2020 by combining DEMs derived from bistatic Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations of the TanDEM-X mission with annual RTS inventories generated from high-resolution optical satellite imagery and geophysical soil property data to estimate erosion volume, ground ice loss, and SOC mobilisation. We estimated that RTS activity on the QTP during 2011–2020 relocated 5.020.7525.35×107 m3 previously frozen material, resulting in a loss of 3.580.2828.20×106 m3 of ground ice, and mobilised 2.780.117.98×108 kg C of organic carbon. We found a reliable power-law scaling relationship between RTS area in the optical RTS inventory and calculated volume change, with α values ranging from 1.20±0.01 to 1.30±0.01 (R2=0.87, p<0.001) depending on the regression model used, which may readily transform planimetric RTS area into volume estimates at scale on the QTP. Despite the relatively recent initiation and smaller size of RTSs on the QTP, material erosion and SOC mobilisation over the past decade exceeded levels in some Siberian Arctic regions, but remained up to 10 times lower than hotspots in the Canadian High Arctic. While current RTS impacts on the QTP are relatively modest, affecting < 0.01 % of the total permafrost area and contributing approximately 0.1 % to the regional carbon budget, the accelerating rates of RTS activity indicate that this phenomenon could become increasingly significant in the future. Our findings highlight the importance of regional studies in advancing our understanding of permafrost thaw-driven changes to the carbon dynamics of rapidly changing permafrost ecosystems.

Abstract Very low Earth orbit (VLEO) altitude, defined as altitudes below 350 km, offers significant advantages for high-resolution Earth observation, as well as low-cost launches and communications. However, developing long-lived VLEO satellites remains technically challenging due to the highly dense residual atmosphere, primarily composed of atomic oxygen (O, or AO) and molecular nitrogen (N2). At VLEO altitudes, dense AO collides with the ram face of satellites at a relative velocity of ~ 8 km s−1, causing significant erosion, roughening, and degradation of organic materials used for thermal control, structural components, and coatings. In addition, the highly dense atmosphere may induce drag on satellites, complicating orbit maintenance and affecting the propulsion system. This study investigates a polyimide film coated with a photocurable silsesquioxane (SQ, manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.) as a potential AO-resistant material. Through the reaction with AO, the SQ coating forms a passivating silica layer on the surface, protecting the underlying polyimide film from further AO attack. To investigate the potential use of SQ-coated polyimide films as a material for the external surfaces of VLEO satellites, the films were exposed to AO in low Earth orbit (LEO) via Material Degradation Monitor 2 and Carbon Nanotube missions on the International Space Station, as well as a lab-based laser-detonation AO source. The mass losses and erosion yields of LEO-exposed films were higher than those of the lab-exposed films. The erosion of SQ-coated polyimides exhibited sensitivity to the environmental differences between the LEO and the laser-detonation AO source (e.g., the velocity distributions and compositions of O and O2, UV, and thermal cycling). Regardless of the exposure environment, cracks that penetrated the polyimide layer formed when AO exposure exceeded ~ 1 × 1021 atoms cm−2. The cracks formed were more severe under LEO exposure than in the lab. Similar cracking phenomena were observed at LEO and VLEO altitudes during the Material Degradation Monitor mission on Super-Low-Altitude Test Satellite, as indicated by a marked increase in visible diffusion above ~ 1 × 1021 atoms cm−2. Cross-sectional laser Raman spectroscopy of lab-exposed films revealed that the reaction of the coating with AO induced compressive stress, which was relieved by the formation of cracks. These cracks also affect thermo-optical and mechanical properties and may increase satellite drag through multiple-bounce scattering. To enable long-term VLEO missions, the molecular design of the coating must be improved to maintain nanoscale surface smoothness and prevent crack formation under high-fluence AO exposure.

Ultrasonic vibration-assisted arc machining of Inconel 718: Achieving concurrent processing efficiency enhancement and microstructure regulation☆

The reduction in efficiency, noise, vibration, and material erosion caused by propeller cavitation severely restricts the performance improvement of ships and underwater vehicles. Therefore, this study systematically explores the coupled influence mechanism of serrated blade edge geometric parameters (height, width, spacing, and angle) on the cavitation characteristics and propulsion efficiency of the VP1304 propeller based on the principle of bionics. The multi-parameter synergistic effect is quantitatively analyzed by coupling the realizable k–ε turbulence model with the Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model and employing the L9 (34) orthogonal experimental design. The results showed that appropriate parameter settings reduce cavitation volume by 19.93%, while propulsion efficiency decreases by only 7.37%, highlighting the inherent contradiction between cavitation suppression and propulsion efficiency. This study presents a new method of bionic structure optimization for propeller design, providing engineering application value for improving propeller performance.

Influence of organic-inorganic intercalation LDH on microstructure and resistance to seawater erosion of LC3 cementitious material based on calcined sludge

The heat load distribution on the first wall (FW) and the wall material erosion have been investigated for the CFEDR conventional H-mode scenario. The FW shaping has been optimized based on the 3D assessment of the heat flux distribution for both the start-up and steady-state phases using the PFCFlux code. This optimization ensures that the leading edge is protected even with 10 mm misalignment considered for each wall segment. During the start-up phase, the peak heat load is about 0.85 MW/m2 located at the high-field side wall, whereas for the steady-state phase, the peak heat load is about 0.64 MW/m2 located at the low-field side wall, with the main contribution from the loss of α (W) edge transport have been simulated using the SOLPS-OSM-DIVIMP code package. Simulation results confirm that the W source from the FW can significantly increase the core W density by more than an order of magnitude for the detached divertor conditions, thereby determining the core W concentration. A suitable D2 injection as a trade-off for Ar injection has been demonstrated to effectively reduce W erosion rates while maintaining the core W concentration and material lifetime at an acceptable level for CFEDR.

Abstract Boronization is a widely employed technique for oxygen gettering and impurity suppression. It is expected to be an initial routine wall conditioning method for tungsten (W) plasma-facing components (PFCs) in ITER. To assess boron (B) performance under metal wall conditions, experimental campaigns with boronization were conducted in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). A quartz crystal microbalance installed at the mid-plane of port C (C-QMB), positioned 0.5 m behind the limiter, enabled in-situ monitoring of material erosion and deposition in magnetic shadowed areas (MSAs) during the wall conditioning processes and subsequent plasma discharges. Material erosion was detected in the majority (> 50%) of discharges, regardless of whether they were normal plasma operations or terminated by disruptions. Transitions from erosion to deposition during normal discharges at the C-QMB have been shown to provide critical insights for estimating the lifetime of B-based coatings on nearby PFCs. Erosion rates were also found to be significantly influenced by the heating configuration. Electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) discharges induced erosion rates 1.95 times higher than those in combined lower hybrid wave (LHW) and ECRH discharges. Following a single boronization using 10 g of carborane, the B-based coating on C-QMB exhibited a lifetime of ~10^4 seconds under plasma exposure. Post-mortem analyses revealed that about 30 nm of a boron-carbon film remained on the C-QMB, demonstrating strong oxygen gettering capability and minor iron and copper contamination. This residual film exhibited a deuterium retention at a level of 2.12 × 10^20 m^-2, more than eight times higher than that of pure W, highlighting the pronounced trapping capacity of B-containing films in low-flux regions. These results provide valuable insights into the application of boron in next-step devices such as ITER.

This paper explores the integration of indigenous and engineering approaches to reduce earthquake vulnerability in both urban and rural settings of Jajarkot District, Nepal—specifically focusing on Bheri Municipality (Khalanga Bazar) and Barekot Rural Municipality, the latter being the epicenter of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake on November 3, 2023. The earthquake caused significant damage in Jajarkot and Rukum districts, underscoring the urgency of risk reduction. The study highlights that ongoing changes, such as modernization and population growth, have increased the vulnerability of settlements. Four key issues contributing to this vulnerability include poor living environments, weak governance, increasing social segregation, and the erosion of traditional materials and knowledge. The research emphasizes that both urban and rural areas require tailored mitigation strategies that blend technical solutions with local knowledge. Engineering and non-engineering studies underline the complexity of addressing both existing and future built environments. In both settings, communities possess valuable skills, traditional construction knowledge, and mutual support systems that, if harnessed effectively, can enhance resilience. The study concludes that relying solely on either engineering or indigenous methods is insufficient in the face of rapid urbanization and limited local resources. A hybrid approach that leverages traditional building forms, local materials, and collective practices alongside modern engineering techniques is essential for effective and sustainable earthquake risk mitigation.

Abstract Low Earth orbit (LEO) presents a challenging environment for spacecraft, with factors such as atomic oxygen (AO), solar flux variations, and space debris contributing to material degradation while the ionosphere’s charged particle can cause surface charging affecting electrical systems. AO, the most abundant species in LEO, is particularly reactive, causing significant erosion of organic polymer-based materials and impairing mechanical, thermal, and optical properties. This study aims to evaluate the erosive effects of AO on a typical spacecraft material using a numerical model based on the Finnie framework. The erosion phenomenon will be simulated and its dynamics evaluated for a given mission profile. Results from a one-year simulation reveal erosion depths and their implications for material performance and mission success. The plots show that the magnitude of the erosion depth is comparable to that analyzed in other works. This makes the tool reliable for evaluating materials to be used at a preliminary design stage. Future work will focus on testing and comparing erosion model frameworks. This will give us an understanding of which one is the best fit to the physics of the phenomenon, particularly from the particle assumption point of view.

Abstract Hall thrusters are widely employed in space missions for applications such as spacecraft station-keeping, rephrasing, and orbit topping, owing to their ability to provide sustained thrust over extended durations. However, these thruster systems are inherently susceptible to plasma instabilities and fluctuations, which significantly influence performance by facilitating cross-field electron transport and enhancing propellant ionization. Collisions of high-energy charged particles with the channel walls result in material erosion, subsequently introducing particulate (dust) contaminants into the surrounding plasma environment. Consequently, the presence of charged dust particles, along with axial and radial components of the magnetic field, plays a crucial role in governing the amplitude of waves and instabilities in Hall thruster plasma. In this study, a sixth-order dispersion relation is derived by linearizing the fluid equations for all species in the plasma. A comparative analysis of the Ion Transit-Time Instability (ITTI) is conducted in both dusty and dust-free conditions under combined axial-radial magnetic fields. The impact of various plasma parameters on the behaviour of the instability is examined. Results show that the normalized growth rate amplitude decreases by approximately two orders of magnitude with increasing azimuthal wavenumber in the presence of dust particles. Interestingly, the influence of dust particle mass exhibits the opposite trend, emphasizing the complex role of dust characteristics in instability dynamics.

The combination of geospatial technology and field-based evidence plays an important role and has become a fundamental information system for any disaster-related database, such as a map at the local and regional levels. This research aims to map the geomorphological conditions of the Semeru Volcano after the 2021 eruption and to identify the area of the rain-triggered lahar slide based on the geomorphological conditions. We used remote sensing, geographic information systems, and field surveys. Factors such as morphological condition, lava slide direction, granularity, and thickness were used to predict the secondary hazard zone. The results found that erosion and sedimentation processes of rain-triggered lahar materials dominated 32 landforms from the geomorphological analysis within the study area. The materials were massively distributed in the middle and low-depositional zones located in the Mandalika formation. The inverse distance weighted analysis of lahar materials showed that the distribution of lahar in the range of 0 - 18.5 m was piled up at the bottom of the deposition process. In addition, through granular analysis, fine materials were deposited at the lower zone as a continuous sedimentation process. The lahar direction analysis also shows that the lower zone is a dangerous slide zone with indications of many lava slides. This research proves that the combination of geospatial and field-based evidence can be used to predict the secondary volcano hazard.

ITER-grade tungsten and dispersoid-strengthened tungsten samples with the top surface angled at ~15 deg toward the incident plasma flux were exposed to nine H-mode discharges with edge-localized modes (ELMs) in the lower divertor of the DIII-D tokamak using the Divertor Materials Evaluation System (DiMES). Surface damage included cracking and flaking of material on the two samples farthest away from the plasma strike point (SP) and significant melting of the two samples closest to the SP. Heat flux and thermal analysis tools new to DIII-D have been applied to better understand this material response and to help optimize the exposure conditions for future experiments. SMITER field-line tracing simulations based on IRTV data and EFIT equilibria estimate an average inter-ELM perpendicular heat flux q ⊥ , inter − ELM on the angled surfaces of 10.1 to 19.6 MW/m2 for a majority of the nine discharges, increasing to 15.6 to 24.5 MW/m2 for the single, higher-power shot where samples melted. Fast camera data showed shallow intra-ELM melting and resolidification, which transitioned to bulk inter-ELM melting with melt motion in the J ⃗ × B ⃗ direction. About 50% of the protruding volume of the most affected sample was displaced via melt motion. SIERRA thermal modeling software was able to reproduce an onset time of melting consistent with fast camera data and final sample conditions, within <200 ms. Maximum surface temperatures of 3122 and 2787 K are estimated for the samples farthest away from the SP, while the closest samples achieve melting at 4067 and 4750 ms into the ~5000-ms plasma exposure. A +10% increase in both the SMITER q ⊥ , inter − ELM calculations and the estimated ELM heat loads q ⊥ , ELM was required to achieve this result, which is within the uncertainty of the diagnostic data but likely accounts for non-ideal geometry effects plus other physics uncertainties not included in this first iteration of modeling. This work provided valuable estimates of the three-dimensional temperature evolution to help better understand the observed surface morphology and internal recrystallization of samples, which are discussed in detail in a complementary paper (R. D. Kolasinski et al. “Recrystallization, Melting, and Erosion of Dispersoid-Strengthened Tungsten Materials During Exposure to Divertor Plasmas”). Benchmarking efforts with more diagnosed DIII-D experiments are underway to further refine the SMITER and SIERRA models for DiMES. Future use of these tools will enable researchers to precisely target heat flux exposure conditions in DIII-D to test—but not exceed—the thermomechanical limitations of novel plasma-facing materials.

Achieving uniform, stable, and reliable erosion of electrode materials is crucial for enhancing the performance and lifespan of vacuum-arc devices. This study investigates the rotation and erosion characteristics of cathode spots on Cu and Ti cathodes with various applied magnetic fields. The results indicate that with the discharge current changes, cathode spots evolve from a single spot to multiple spots and then back to a single spot. Without an applied magnetic field, Ti cathode spots exhibit a large-scale random walk, while Cu cathode spots show a concentrated distribution. With an applied magnetic field, cathode spots of both materials undergo directional rotation. The velocity of the Ti cathode spots is higher than that of Cu, and spot velocity increases with the increase of magnetic flux density. When the radial magnetic field is enhanced to 70 mT, the rotational velocity of the cathode spots actually decreases with the increase of the peak current. The increase of applied magnetic field leads to a significant decrease in the total erosion rate and macroparticle loss, accompanied by an increase in the average ion charge state. The application of an applied magnetic field can effectively regulate the rotation of cathode spots, allowing both Cu and Ti cathode spots to rotate for more than one full circle. Scanning electron microscopyobservations indicate that the dimensions of the erosion craters on the cathode surfaces are significantly reduced, leading to a substantial improvement in the uniformity of erosion.

ABSTRACT X40CrMoV51 alloy in heat-treated (HT) and non-heat-treated (NHT) states using electro-discharge machining (EDM) with suspended tungsten compound powder has been scarcely explored. This research investigates the influence of control parameters, such as peak current-Ip, pulse on time-Ton during finishing-EDM, powder amount-TCp, and the material states, on machining characteristics including material erosion rate of the workpiece-MERW and electrode-MERE, and surface metallurgical properties such as re-solidified layer thickness-RSLT, micro-crack acreage percentage-MCAP, chemical composition and its distribution, alloy phase development, and surface morphology. The findings revealed differences in machining and surface metallurgical characteristics between HT and NHT material states. Specifically, MERW increases from 0.0267g/min (NHT) to 0.0279g/min (HT), while MERE decreases from 0.00109g/min (NHT) to 0.000981g/min (HT). Additionally, RSLT reduces from 15.598µm (NHT) to 15.105µm (HT), while MCAP declines from 2.053% (HT) to 1.873% (NHT). Variations were also observed in the chemical composition, W2C phase, and surface topography of the two states.

The degradation behavior of IS 2062 structural steel under extreme combustion conditions induced by double-base propellant exposure is crucial for aerospace and defense applications.This study addresses in understanding steel performance under high-temperature, short-duration rocket motor combustion, providing insights into material resilience, oxidation, and erosion trends. A series of seven static firing tests were conducted with varying nozzle throat diameters, systematically analyzing chamber pressure, burn rates, and structural integrity. The optimal test, Test-06achieved stable combustion with an average chamber pressure of 313 ksc and a burn rate of 36–37 mm/s, demonstrating minimal material degradation. Conversely, Test-07 exceeded 355–372 ksc with burn rates surpassing 41 mm/s, exhibiting erosive burning and accelerated steel erosion.Material characterization techniques, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), revealed significant oxidation, scale formation, and localized surface degradation, in high-temperature regions around 2500 Kelvinat the nozzle throat inducing structural changes. To enhance predictive accuracy, machine learning models Linear Regression, Random Forest Regression, Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-Means Clustering, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were employed to analyze combustion-induced degradation trends, confirming Test-06 as the optimal balance of stability and high performance. Findings emphasize that while IS 2062 steel maintains integrity under transient high-temperature exposure, prolonged operation may lead to thermal fatigue and microstructural weakening, necessitating protective coatings or alternative alloy compositions for long-term durability. This study contributes to improving material selection, structural design, and predictive modeling for defence propulsion systems.

Abstract This paper introduces STRIPE (Simulated Transport of RF Impurity Production and Emission), an advanced modeling framework developed to analyze material erosion and the global transport of eroded impurities originating from radio-frequency (RF) antenna structures in magnetic confinement fusion devices. STRIPE integrates multiple physics modules: SolEdge3x for scrape-off-layer plasma profiles, COMSOL for 3D RF rectified sheath potentials, RustBCA for erosion yields and surface interactions, and global impurity transport for 3D ion energy-angle distributions and impurity transport. The framework is applied to an ion cyclotron RF-heated L-mode discharge (#57877) in the WEST tokamak, where it predicts a thirty-fold increase in gross tungsten erosion at antenna limiters during the transition from ohmic to ICRH operation. Additionally, under ICRH conditions, a tenfold enhancement in erosion is observed when comparing RF sheath effects to purely thermal sheath conditions. High-charge-state oxygen ions ( O 6 + and above) are identified as the dominant contributors to tungsten sputtering. To validate the model, a synthetic diagnostic tool based on inverse photon efficiency (S/XB coefficients) from the ColRadPy collisional-radiative model enables direct comparison with spectroscopic measurements. Model predictions using a plasma composition of 1% oxygen and 99% deuterium show good agreement with observed W − I (400.9 nm) emission for discharge #57877, supporting the accuracy of the STRIPE framework. This study focuses specifically on gross erosion calculations to demonstrate STRIPE’s capabilities. Future extensions of this work will incorporate net erosion, re-deposition, self-sputtering effects, and whole-device modeling of sputtered tungsten impurity transport. STRIPE is also being applied to other RF-heated linear and toroidal devices, offering valuable insights for antenna design, impurity control, and performance optimization in next-generation fusion reactors.

Manmade detention ponds have historically been impacted by anthropogenic activities such as rainwater runoff, car emissions, and drainage from infrastructures, which can lead to complications for pond ecosystems. Sediment samples collected from the northern, southern, western, and eastern regions of a small pond on a suburban high school campus on Long Island, NY, were analyzed for potential chemical changes resulting from an inundation of water by a broken water main. Incorporating synchrotron X-ray techniques, sediment was analyzed using Submicron Resolution Spectroscopy, Tender Energy X-ray Spectroscopy, and X-ray Powder Diffraction to examine heavy metals, light elements, and minerals. Results include a Zn:Cu ratio increase from 4:1 to 10:1 in the eastern zone and a higher heavy metal presence in the western zone for all elements examined, with greater distribution throughout the pond post-inundation. Lighter elements appear to remain relatively unchanged. The appearance of diopside in the eastern zone post-inundation samples suggests contamination from the water main break, while the presence of carbonate minerals in the western zone is consistent with erosion of asphalt material from the adjacent parking lot.