Comparative study on the water droplet erosion behavior between stretched and casted aeronautical PMMA

Rain droplet erosion is a potential threat in aviation, especially for forward-facing components such as windshields of aircraft. To comprehend and mitigate such hazards, a comparative study was conducted on two kinds of commonly used aeronautical PMMA materials: casted and biaxially stretched. The study aimed to investigate the water droplet erosion (WDE) behavior and the underlying damage mechanism. A modified pulsed water jet erosion facility was constructed to mimic the impact of successive water droplets. The influence of impact velocity on the WDE behavior was explored and quantitative evaluations of volume loss, surface entrance area, and erosion depth were conducted. Results revealed that the increase in impact velocity leads to faster damage initiation and a larger erosion rate. Compared with the stretched sample, the casted sample exhibits higher erosion resistance. The stretched sample exhibits a funnel-shaped cavity with a flat bottom, while the casted sample shows a tapered crater with shallow depth. The cavity shape can influence the subsequent flow fields and stress distribution, thereby affecting the development of erosion entrance and depth. Microscopic analysis of the erosion cavities revealed different damage mechanisms at each stage of erosion. The stretched sample exhibited exfoliation of fine flakes and denudation of large pieces due to stress waves and lateral jet-induced shear, whereas hydraulic penetration had a more pronounced effect on the casted sample. The cushioning effect of the water film was also studied, noting a gradual reduction in its effectiveness with increasing impact velocity.