Mass loss simulation in cavitation erosion: Fatigue criterion approach

As a complement to previous works developed in laboratory LEGI1 to model and simulate cavitation erosion phenomenon [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6] (Fortes-Patella and Reboud, 1998; Fortes Patella et al., 2000; Fortes Patella et al., 2001; Fortes Patella et al., 2012; Choffat et al., 2003), a 2D axi-symmetric dynamic approach based on fatigue criterion was proposed and applied to predict cavitation erosion of aluminium 1050A, copper 99.99% and 316L stainless steel samples.The proposed physical model is based on an oligocyclic fatigue approach, with the Palmgreen–Miner rule for damage accumulation. The stress loading applied by the cavitating flow is deduced from results of pitting measurement made in previous works [3] and [6] (Fortes Patella et al., 2000; Choffat et al., 2003). The behaviour of the material exposed to cavitation loading was implemented in a simulation tool in the scope of collaborations with EdF-R&D.2 This tool predicts material damage by calculating the material removal rate.Making use of the experimental data supplied by EdF-R&D, analyses were done in order to study the influence of physical and simulation parameters on quantitative results. For the few known experimental data, simulated damage rates are found in satisfactory agreement with measured ones. The relationship between erosion rates and pitting rates was also studied.

► The paper presents an original cavitation erosion model based on fatigue approach.
► The model is based on pitting tests and numerical simulations of material dynamic behaviour.
► It allows predicting the erosion rate and the incubation period of cavitation damage phenomenon.
► Cavitation erosion tests have been carried out and allowed the model validation.