ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 6

Erosion of Phosphor Bronze under Cavitation Attack in a Mineral Oil

Rao, BCS
Senior Research Associate and Branch Chief, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH

Buckley, DH
Senior Research Associate and Branch Chief, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH

Abstract

Experimental investigations on erosion of a copper alloy, phosphor bronze, under cavitation attack in a viscous mineral oil are presented. The details of pit formation and erosion were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The mean depth of penetration, the variations in surface roughness, and the changes in erosion pit size were studied. Cavitation pits formed initially over the grain boundaries while the surface grains were plastically deformed. Erosion of surface grains occurred largely by ductile fracture involving microcracking and removal in layers. The ratio h/a of the depth h to half width a of cavitation pits increased with test duration from 0.047 to 0.55.

Keywords:
cavitation erosion, mineral oil, phosphor bronze, pit formation, pit geometry

Paper ID: JTE10314J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE10314J
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