Erosion
If a proper coating is selected erosion should be of little concern. Some coatings are designed to withstand high volume traffic on factory floors by fork trucks, containers and employees. However, there are various ASTM abrasion tests that can be performed by the designer to ensure that the selected product meets expectations. This is highly recommended as usage of ships in sea miles can be hard to compare with the typical operation of a tidal current turbine.
Knowledge of erosion resistance is also necessary for developers when planning blade cleaning. If the coating is unable to withstand the removal of antifouling by brush or high pressure water jet then it is unlikely to be selected. To test blade materials for erosion a designer is recommended to use the ASTM G73 process. To test coatings please see ASTM D4938-89(2007).
