Multiple liquid impact of single-crystal lithium fluoride

Lithium fluoride in its single-crystal form is an interesting material for investigating the development of fracture by multiple liquid impact owing to its well characterized crystal structure. The development of fracture during liquid impact is attributed to the extension of short circumferential cracks produced around the loaded area by the passing Rayleigh stress wave after the impact event. The damage threshold of single-crystal lithium fluoride is developed using the Cavendish Laboratory's multiple impact jet apparatus as a result of identifying the characteristic fracture annulus associated with liquid impact during a controlled experimental procedure. The observation of damage produced in solids by liquid impact has practical significance in the problems with supersonic aircraft flying through rain and in the erosion of turbine blades moving at high speeds through wet steam.