Quantitative modelling of the erosive removal of a thin soil deposit by impinging liquid jets

Kaye et al. (1995) conducted an experimental investigation of the cleaning of thin soil layers by water jets generated from stationary nozzles of diameter 0.25–2 mm and velocities ranging from 6 to 40 m s−1. The soil layers were prepared by drying a commercial cleaning suspension on polymethylmethacrylate plates. Several of their data sets have been re-analysed and are shown to fit the ‘strong soil’ model for cleaning by peeling reported by Bhagat et al. (2017). The model is demonstrated to be able to explain the trends in cleaning efficiency observed by Kaye et al. quantitatively, including the transition in efficiency observed at longer times. Kaye et al. also investigated the case of cleaning by a moving nozzle for one set of jet conditions, and reported an increase in cleared area with nozzle velocity. This behaviour is not predicted for the ‘strong soil’ and the model was modified to incorporate a contribution from the milling action of the jet in its impingent zone. This ‘very strong soil’ result gave good agreement with the data for the area cleared and the shape of the cleared region. [Display omitted] •Data from Kaye et al. were re-analysed using newly developed models for peeling.•‘Strong soil’ model gives good description of cleaning by static nozzle.•Observed variation in cleaning efficiency is predicted by the model.•Strong soil model extended to cover cleaning by moving nozzle.•Size and shape of area cleared by moving nozzle consistent with new model.