Influence of the basalt structure and properties on development the cavitation damage

Abstract

This paper analyzes the formation of cavitation damages depending on the technology of fabrication, structure and properties of basalt from the Vrelo-Kopaonik deposit. The methodology for monitoring the level of damage caused by cavitation and estimation the material life span base on parameters was developed: change in the mass loss, measurement the degradation level of the sample surface, dynamics of the formation ofpits, changes in their average area surface, determination the line profile. A change in the surface morphology with the test time was followed by a scanning electron microscopy. The level of surface degradation of samples was quantified using the image analysis. The results indicate that the cast basalt has a high degree of cavitation resistance.