LAUSR

Abstract A simple method is proposed to describe solid particle erosion in a bend. The key to the new model is to solve the flow field and particle trajectory in the bend. The present model works based on two mechanisms. First, the axial velocity of the fluid entering the bend satisfies the conservation of angular momentum. Second, the solid particle follows a curved trajectory in a plane parallel to the symmetry plane of the bend due to the drag force of the fluid. When the drag force of the fluid on the particles is sufficiently strong, an explicit solution of the particle trajectory can be obtained. The solid particle erosion in the bend can be solved by substituting the impact parameters into particulate erosion theory. Each step of the new model is verified by comparing the predictions of the axial velocity profile of the fluid, the axial velocity profile of the particle, and the solid particle erosion on the outside of the bend with experimental data available in the literature. Furthermore, the applicability of the present model is also discussed in detail.