Numerical Study on High-Speed Impact Between a Water Droplet and a Deformable Solid Surface
In this study an axisymmetric model is set up to study the impact of a spherical water droplet with a planar deformable solid surface using the Lagrange-Euler coupling method which is based on a penalty formulation. The diameter and velocity of the droplet are 0.4 mm and 500 m/s respectively, while the solid is a kind of steam turbine blade material. The generated pressure distribution in the droplet and its variation with time, the formation of lateral jet, the deformation and stress distribution in the solid are obtained and investigated. It is shown that the compressibility of the droplet and the solid plays a significant role during the impact. The water-hammer pressure and the maximum contact edge pressure are calculated and in good agreement with the existing theoretical predictions. The calculated contact radius for shock departure is larger than that of the conventional theoretical prediction, which is analyzed and attributable to the radial motion of the liquid in the compressed region. The formation of the high-speed lateral jet is calculated and the time for the observable jetting is much later than that of the shock departure. This delay is discussed and the reason needs more research. The pressure of the contact edge region remains highest even after a considerable time of shock departure and lateral jetting. In the mean time, a saucer-shaped depression is generated in the center of the impact. The stress waves in solid move faster even before shock departure in the liquid. This causes disturbance of the solid surface before the high-speed lateral jetting and provides site for the scouring action of it, and subsequently may cause material damage and erosion.