EROSION OF GLASS AS MODELED BY INDENTATION THEORY

The relation between the mechanical properties of brittle surfaces and an expression for removal rate obtained from the modeling of solid-particle erosion has been investigated with the aid of indentation-fracture theory. Different types of glass have been used in this investigation to avoid the complications that microstructure introduces to the description of the mechanical properties of ceramics in general. It appears that the dependence of the removal rate on the material parameters of elasticity, hardness, and fracture toughness can be well described by indentation-fracture theory. Although different types of glass allow a much more accurate validation of theory than other ceramics, they still do not discriminate between the various expressions for crack length and cracking depth that coexist in indentation-fracture theory.