Crush characteristics of abrasive particles during abrasive waterjet rock cutting

Abrasive waterjet cutting is emerging as an efficient technology for use in the areas of rock excavation and mining because it does not add thermal and mechanical stress to the nearby target materials. In the rock cutting process, an abrasive plays an important role in the brittle material erosion mechanism. The abrasive particle crush characteristics are related to the rock erosion performance. Thus, it is important to verify the abrasive particle crush characteristics. In this study, cutting experiments were performed on hard-rock specimens using a high-pressure abrasive waterjet system. Commercial garnet particles were used as the abrasive. The characteristics (roundness, sphericity, and particle size) of the crushed abrasive particles after the experiments were compared to those of fresh abrasive particles via a photographic analysis from a scanning electron microscope. In addition, cutting results were analyzed with the use of both fresh and crushed particles. Through an analysis of the abrasive particle crush characteristics which arise during abrasive waterjet erosion generated on the surface of a target rock, a better understanding of the erosion mechanisms which apply in abrasive waterjet cutting can be realized. Furthermore, such an analysis can serve as a useful guide for the use of recycled abrasive materials.