Prediction of erosive wear by solid particles in a turbulent curved-channel flow

Numerical modeling of fluid-particulate turbulent flow transport processes, including erosion, cannot substitute (at least for the present) good experimentation. Notwithstanding, the calculation approach offers a viable, relatively inexpensive and complementary alternative for gleaming useful information on the relative dependence of particle transport and erosion on the flow system parameters of relevance. In the present study these parameters include: the particle phase response time, Reynolds number and concentration; the turbulent characteristics of the fluid phase; the channel aspect ratio and curvature. This communication summarizes the main results predicted by means of a numerical procedure for the motion of a dilute suspension of solid particles driven by turbulent flow in curved and straight two-dimensional channels. An exposition of the theoretical development, the numerical model, its testing and application to these configurations of special engineering interest are provided. A simple model for erosion is used successfully to predict surface wear.