Material disintegration
Research is aimed predominantly at the high-speed water jet disintegration of rock and rock-like materials. Main areas of interest can be defined as intensification of water jet effects, research on abrasive materials for abrasive water jet cutting, and development of unconventional methods of shaping of rock and rock-like materials.
![](javascript:openpic("about/example3.jpg", "en",
"Sandstone specimen machined by abbrasive water jet", 380, 250 ))
Intensification of water jet effects by pulsing the jet includes research on process of excitation and propagation of high-frequency pressure pulsations in liquid and their utilization for generation of high-speed pulsating water jets. Dynamic behaviour of pulsating water jet is studied both theoretically using CFD methods and experimentally using jet visualization, direct measurement of dynamic pressure and impact force of pulsating jet. Interaction of pulsating jet and material is studied using optical methods and image analysis to define processes occurring during the interaction as well as effects of the pulsating jet on newly created surface.
Topic abrasive materials for abrasive water jets covers research on new abrasive materials (both natural and artificial) and definition of their crucial properties from the point of view of both maximizing cutting performance and minimizing wear of cutting head as well as environmental impacts.
Unconventional shaping of test specimens comprises development of methods of water jet machining, primarily aimed at shaping of rock and rock-like materials for tests of their physical and mechanical properties.