Title: Process optimisation and exhibiting correlation in the exploitable variable of AWJM

Authors: K. Balamurugan; M. Uthayakumar; S. Sankar; U.S. Hareesh; K.G.K. Warrier

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, VFSTR (Deemed to be University), Guntur, 522213, AP, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil, 626-126, India ' Material Sciences and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram, 695019, India ' Material Sciences and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram, 695019, India ' Material Sciences and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram, 695019, India

Abstract: Rare earth phosphate ceramic particles, when used as reinforcement, have considerably improved the toughness property. In the present work, lanthanum phosphate-yttrium composite synthesised by the Sol-Gel technique was taken as a study material. Abrasive waterjet machine (AWJM) is preferred to examine the machinability of the fabricated composite as ceramic particles possess low thermal and electrical conductivity. Irrespective of various operating parameters of AWJM, the dominant parameters such as jet pressure (JP), stand-off distance (SOD) and traverse speed (TS) are considered to measure the output performance characteristics of material removal rate (MRR), kerf angle (KA) and surface profile roughness (Ra). Silicon carbide and garnet are taken as the abrasive particles. The investigation shows that TS essentially characterise silicon carbide as abrasive shows 85.89%, accompanied by 7% JP and 6% SOD. On account of garnet, TS extraordinarily influences with a commitment of 64.84% followed by SOD of 20.11% and JP of 14.65%. The microstructure assessment on the cut surface reveals the plastic deformation surface for both abrasives and the surface erosion occurs by squashing and crushing of particles. Low MRR and KA are recorded for garnet and the superior Ra is therefore obtained when silicon carbide is used as abrasive.

Keywords: abrasive waterjet machine; AWJM; silicon carbide; LaPO₄-Y₂O₃ composite; garnet; optimisation; microstructure characterisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2020.111310

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2020 Vol.61 No.1, pp.16 - 33

Accepted: 24 Jul 2020
Published online: 19 Nov 2020 *

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