Pits in Metals Caused by Collision With Liquid Drops and Rigid Steel Spheres

A pit-depth-versus-velocity equation developed earlier was tested further with experimental data obtained using target plates of electrolytic tough pitch copper, 1100–O aluminum, and 2024–O aluminum, the static strength properties of which were measured by testing tensile specimens. The projectiles used to produce the pits were mercury drops, waterdrops, and steel spheres. It was found that the numerical constants in the equation for projectiles that flow during and as a result of the collision are different from those for projectiles that do not flow (hardened steel spheres). Curves calculated using the equation were found to be in acceptable agreement with experimental pit-depth-versus-velocity data for collisions of the indicated projectiles with target plates of the three metals used with the exception of the case of steel-sphere impingement against 2024–O aluminum alloy. In this case work-hardening of the target metal seems to foster a mode of pit formation that was not considered in the development of the pit-depth-versus-velocity equation.