The effect of ice jet process parameters on rust removal from ship hull surfaces based on simulation and experimental

Corrosion failure is the most prevalent mode of degradation in ships operating within marine environments, making surface treatment for rust removal a critical component of maintenance. Ice jet rust removal offers both environmental benefits, due to its low pollutant emissions, and economic advantages, owing to the minimal cost of cleaning materials. These characteristics make it well-suited for treating extensive areas such as ship decks and pre-treated steel plates. Despite the potential to improve processing efficiency through increased feed speeds, existing surface treatment equipment often fails to ensure uniform rust removal quality across large areas. As a result, a comprehensive understanding of process parameters is essential for the effective design of surface treatment systems. This study focuses on the rust layer of Q235A steel, a material frequently use d in ship deck construction. A finite element simulation model is developed to represent the ice jet rust removal process, and corresponding experimental procedures are conducted. By analyzing both the simulation results and processed samples, the study reveals the rust removal mechanism associated with Q235A steel and evaluates the effects of different process parameters on resulting surface properties.