Journal Published Online: 18 May 2020
Volume 49, Issue 1

Evaluation and Optimization of Geometric Deviations in Abrasive Water Jet Profile Cutting of Inconel 617

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

Inconel 617, an extremely hard-to-machine nickel-based superalloy, is used for high-temperature applications in ultra-supercritical power plants for components like headers, pipes, and turbine blades. Conventional machining of superalloys has been widely explored and is plagued by productivity and quality issues. Nontraditional processing is seen as an effective alternative, and abrasive water jet is a capable method. Optimization involving weighted principal components and a genetic algorithm is detailed for the abrasive water jet process. Water pressure, abrasive mass flow, stand-off distance, and traverse speed are the predominant factors affecting the process. Performance characteristics are material removal rate and surface roughness. Geometric deviations like circularity, cylindricity, perpendicularity, and parallelism, which are mostly neglected, have been investigated. Analysis of variance has been reported indicating the predominant factors. Geometric deviations are consolidated into a geometric index using weighted principal components. Simultaneous multiresponse optimization is performed using multi-objective genetic algorithm and a Pareto-front. From the Pareto-front a geometric index of 0.02036 was obtained at water pressure of 266.03 MPa, standoff distance of 4.27 mm, abrasive mass flow of 0.41 kg/min, and traverse speed of 58.98 mm/min. Material removal rate of 495.42 mm3/min was obtained at water pressure of 266.29 MPa, standoff distance of 4.48 mm, abrasive mass flow of 0.40 kg/min, and traverse speed of 63.11 mm/min. Surface roughness of 6.6364 μm was obtained at water pressure of 266.43 MPa, standoff distance of 4.43 mm, abrasive mass flow of 0.42 kg/min, and traverse speed of 57.48 mm/min. The sets obtained are a compromise between the different output values and provide an optimal parameter setting for the abrasive water jet process. This tool is essential when a large database is available, and it could be used to obtain a set of solutions based on the different machining characteristics that are required from the process.

Author Information

Nair, Anish
Mechanical Engineering Department, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Virudhunagar, India
Kumanan, Somasundaram
Production Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, Trichy, India
Pages: 21
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JTE20200036
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20200036