Experimental and numerical study on erosion of elbows under high-pressure fluctuating loads

Abstract

Erosion in high-pressure manifolds is a common failure mode and can cause punctures under fluctuating loads, leading to significant safety risks and economic losses. To timely predict and prevent the dangers caused by erosion, erosion tests involving the fluctuating stress were conducted, and a new erosion model suitable for higher internal pressure environments was proposed based on the experimental data and four erosion models. The model was then applied to simulate the erosion behavior of elbows. The results indicate that the erosion rate increases with loading frequency and amplitude at higher stress, with stress significantly exacerbating erosion. The critical particle size for a shift in erosion distribution is found to be 200 μm. This work enhances the accuracy of erosion predictions in fluctuating stress environments.