SEDL / STP / STP1077-EB / STP19100S

Characterisation of Dust Impact Process at Low Velocity by Acoustic Emission

Buttle, DJ
research scientists, AEA Technology, Harwell Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon

Scruby, CB
research scientists, AEA Technology, Harwell Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1991

Download this paper for $25 PDF (208K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

An acoustic emission (AE) technique is developed for monitoring hard particle impact for eventual use as an on-line erosion rate sensor. In a preliminary study the elastic impact of bronze and glass particles (size range 50 – 100 μm, velocities 2.5 – 7.1 m/s) on a aluminium target was investigated. The plate Green's function and system response were deconvolved from AE signals due to impact at epicentre. The velocity and time dependence and the absolute values of the peak impact force and impact time thus obtained compared well with predicted theoretical values. The quantitative technique developed was also used to size the particles, giving the correct mean particle size to within 4%. This fundamental approach provides a framework for later extension to plastic particle impact.