Author : Prashant Kharwante, Arakerimath Rachayya and Sarang Hatvalne

Water Droplet Erosion (WDE) is a significant cause of material degradation, particularly in high-speed environments where liquid droplets impact solid surfaces. This phenomenon leads to the development of high-pressure pulses and lateral jets that contribute to material erosion. The process unfolds through several stages, including incubation, acceleration, maximum erosion rate, deceleration, and a steady-state phase. Each phase is governed by distinct mechanisms such as micro-cracking, pit formation, and material loss. During the initial stages, surface roughening and localized material flow occur, whereas more advanced stages witness transgranular and intergranular cracking, grain detachment, and crater formation. Key factors such as impact velocity, droplet size, and the material’s properties significantly influence the erosion rate. Experimental tests conducted on TiAl alloys highlight the pivotal role of time as a factor in the erosion process. This study offers insights into optimal conditions for minimizing surface roughness and material loss. It contributes to future research on material performance in WDE-prone applications.

Keywords: Water Droplet Erosion, TiAl, Taguchi Method, Erosion Modeling, Surface Roughness, Regression Analysis.