A probabilistic model for the erosion of cement-based composites due to very high-speed hydro-abrasive flow

A probabilistic model V̇M∝1−exp[−z⋅(σT/σC)m], originally developed for comminution processes, is applied to cement-based materials, eroded by water-driven abrasive particles with velocities as high as 552 m/s. In the equation, V̇M is the volumetric erosion rate, and the ratio σT/σC is the dimensionless impact stress (tensile stress/compressive strength). Based on experimental investigations, values for the scale parameter (z) and the shape parameter (m) are estimated for five cement-based materials. Results of Spearman׳s rank coefficient calculations show that the scale parameter is particularly sensitive to the compressive strength, and this effect is explained through higher flaw densities in low-strength materials.