Sediment mineral grain gradations on cavitation erosion of concrete material in high-velocity sediment-laden flow.

This article examines the influence of sediment mineral compositions and grain size gradations on cavitation erosion of concrete in high-velocity flows typical of high-head flood release structures. Experimental tests using six primary minerals (quartz, dolomite, feldspar, mica, calcite, and pyroxene) with varying grain size distributions demonstrated that a decrease in the mass percentage of finer grains and an increase in the Mohs hardness of mineral compositions both promote cavitation occurrence and intensify cavitation erosion on concrete surfaces. Measurements showed that pressure in the cavitation zone decreases while pressure in the cavitation erosion zone increases under these conditions, correlating with more severe erosion characterized by larger and more numerous erosion pits. The study concludes that sediment mineral hardness and grain size distribution significantly affect cavitation dynamics and erosion severity in sediment-laden high-velocity flows impacting concrete hydraulic structures.