Integrated CFD and Theoretical Modeling of Erosive Wear in Composite Laminates

Abstract

The use of mathematical models and computational flow dynamics (CFD) in erosive wear studies can provide an approximation of the material performance under different conditions of the temperature, impact angle, and particle velocity. For this reason, the use of these analysis tools is essential for applications in specialized areas such as renewable energy, automotive and aerospace. This research work reports the results of erosive wear using use results of erosive wear using a validated numerical CFD tool based on the behavior and characteristics of the erosive SiC particles on the surface of a laminated composite material. In addition, the use of the Patnaik and Oka models is presented to obtain an approximation of the erosion rate, using the properties of the matrix and the reinforcing material that constitute the laminated composite evaluated, as well as the erosion conditions. The numerical results obtained compared to the experimental results had an approximation in of 94% in the erosion rate, 93.5% in the mass loss and 96.1% in the wear zone depth. These findings not only validate the combined use of CFD simulation and theoretical models, as an accurate alternative to traditional experimental testing, also accelerate the materials evaluation process, reduce development costs and improve the design of components with greater resistance to erosive wear. Therefore, these results provide a solid basis for integrating erosive wear resistance criteria into the structural design of composite components, optimizing their service life and performance under severe operating conditions.