An Experimental Method for Analyzing Environmental Effects of Blowing Sands on Glass Abrasion

Surface abrasion of engineering materials by blown sand bombardment is an extensive near-surface phenomenon in desert areas. In this study, experiments conducted in a straight-line, blow-type wind tunnel provided useful information for glass abrasion profiles, the intensity of abrasion with time and vertical distribution of blown sand energy. Micro-morphology of the flaws on abraded glass surface was observed with SEM. The micro-morphology of the surface flaws was observed as conchae, fan, semicircle, and petal shapes, which were generated by lateral cracks or radial cracks. Average axes length of flaws increased exponentially with time. The intensity of abrasion was good exponentially relation to the time. On the abrade profile, the height of maximum abrasion (Hmax) occurred at 15-17.5 cm above the sand surface. Under the Hmax, the abrade intensity increased with the height. On the contrary, abrade intensity decreased with the height above the Hmax. There was a good exponentially relation between the ratio of sand transport and the height. The abrasion capacity of sand particles increased power with the height. The curve of abrade intensity obtained in the experiments were consistent with the results of Sharp and Liu et al, but the Hmax was different.