Study on effect of particle velocity and impact angle on erosion of Ti-6Al-4V alloy using smoothed particle hydrodynamics method

In the present study, solid particle erosion of Ti-6Al-4V alloy under the impact of spherical alumina particles with a diameter of 85 microns was analyzed using experimental studies and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) modeling. The erosive behavior of this alloy was simulated as impacts on micro-scale and based on Johnson-Cook constitutive equations. This research focuses on the effect of particle velocity and impact angle on erosion rate as the most critical factors. Additionally, the results of this model are validated by empirical results under-considered conditions. At the end of the article, based on the alloy properties, the velocity of particles, and impact angle, a prediction equation was presented on erosion rate in the studied range of velocity and impact angle. This study indicates a power-law equation between the velocity of particles and the erosion rate, where the power is independent of impact angle. Furthermore, in all the velocity and angle ranges, the maximum erosion rate was associated with the angle of 45o. Therefore, the critical angle in erosion is also independent of the velocity of particles.