ISSN: 0884-6804
Page Count: 9

Hydrodynamic Machining of Fiber-Reinforced Composites
Chelikani, S
Research assistant, Yale University, CT

Kalpakjian, S
Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology, IL

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation aimed at studying the applicability of waterjet machining to reinforced plastics. Representative samples of plastics over a wide range of matrices and fibers of various thicknesses were chosen. The machined samples were studied under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for surface characteristics. Some samples were measured for roughness using a stylus profilometer and later non-contact laser holography for confirmation. The SEM study revealed that under conditions of excessive cutting speed, high stand-off distance, low water pressure, small nozzle diameter, which are considered nonoptimum, the surfaces displayed signs of fiber debonding, pull-out, matrix chipping, and delamination. Roughness readings revealed that surface quality improves with larger-diameter nozzles and at low machining speeds.

Keywords:
hydrodynamic machining, waterjet machining, glass-epoxy composites, graphite-peek composites, fiber pullout, fiber debonding, surface roughness

Paper ID: CTR10523J
DOI: 10.1520/CTR10523J
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