spalling
/ˈspɔlɪŋ/
noun
- The process of breaking off small chips, flakes, or fragments from a larger piece of material, especially stone, concrete, or metal.
- Engineers inspected the dam for spalling caused by water pressure.
- Spalling on the concrete steps made them unsafe to walk on.
- The old brick wall showed signs of spalling due to years of freezing and thawing.
Synonyms
verb
- To break off small chips or fragments from a surface, especially stone, concrete, or metal.
- Workers had to spall the damaged concrete before repaving the road.
- Over time, the salt water will spall the paint off the ship's hull.
- The hammer's impact caused the rock to spall into tiny pieces.