Synergetic effects of secondary liquid drop impact and solid particle impact during hydro-abrasive erosion of brittle materials

The paper contains an analysis of the erosion capability of water drops formed during the acceleration of solid particles by a high-speed water jet. A dynamic fracture criterion for brittle materials is combined with stress equations for drop impact. Corresponding drop sizes are calculated with already existing relationships for liquid jet disintegration. Critical impact velocities are estimated for given drop diameters, and a fracture map is designed. Critical liquid jet velocities are rather low for soft rocks, such as limestone (92 m/s), and sandstone (200 m/s), but high for hard rocks, such as granite (1250 m/s) and basalt (1662 m/s).