A mechanistic model for the prediction of ductile erosion

Mechanisms operative in dust erosion of ductile materials were determined with the aid of scanning electron microscope studies. Dimensional analysis was employed in the development of a mathematical model for predicting the erosion of ductile materials. The basis of the model was an identified erosion mechanism (target melting) and the model was verified in an erosion testing program. The target materials in the testing program were three stainless steels, two aluminum alloys, a beryllium copper alloy and a titanium alloy. The erosive agents were three dusts with hard angular particles and one dust with spherical particles. Maximum particle velocities were 130 or 250 ms^?1.