Particle Velocimetry, CFD, and the Role of Particle Sphericity in Cold Spray

Implementation of the cold spray (CS) technology in manufacturing and repair creates a demand for reliable quality control and process monitoring measures. In this regard, particle size and impact velocity are undoubtedly the most important control parameters in CS. Several in-flight measurement systems for particle velocimetry are now available commercially for CS. These systems provide great potential to be used as a diagnostic tool for validating CS system performance in industrial applications. However, post processing the velocimetry data is required in many instances for achieving a complete understanding of the particle flow field. In this study, particle velocimetry is used in conjunction with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to: (i) identify the physical factors that dictate the particle velocity and its variability; (ii) develop high fidelity CFD models to accurately predict particle flight parameters that cannot be measured by available experimental tools; and (iii) present the capabilities of state-of-the-art velocimeters as a reliable diagnostic tool for measuring the consistency and repeatability of CS systems in manufacturing settings. In-flight particle size, location, and velocity are measured using a commercially available velocimeter for aluminum and copper particles sprayed with supersonic nozzles using helium, nitrogen, and air by two high pressure CS systems. As a result of this work, particle sphericity was clearly identified to have strong effects on particle velocity and to be one of the main factors of the variability of particle velocity. Furthermore, methods for building a high-fidelity 3D-CFD model was presented. CFD models were validated using particle velocimetry and schlieren imaging. Finally, particle velocimetry is shown to be a valid diagnostics tool for CS with systems capable of measuring in-flight particle velocities along with particle sizes. This article also outlines steps necessary for conducting cold spray process diagnostics repeatably and reliably.