Measurement and analysis of abrasive particles velocities in AWJ

Abrasive water jet (AWJ) is a progressive technology commonly used in many industrial applications. Potential of this technology is high and research in the field of optimal geometry design of an injection system has not been completed yet. New designs of the injection cutting head based on numerical simulation of the flow provide important information about processes occurring during the formation of AWJ. Detailed knowledge of velocities of abrasive particles during the abrasive water jet generation is vital for the verification of the numerical model. The aim of the experimental work was to test the applicability of the LIF (Laser Inducted Fluorescence) technique combined with the PTV (Particle Tracking Velocity) processing algorithms to analyze particle velocities at the output of the focusing tube. The combination of commonly used water pressures with abrasive mass flow rate was tested and the obtained results of abrasive particles velocities are presented in this paper