Two-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Turning Processes

Despite crucial efforts invested into computational methods, explicit dynamics simulation of cutting operations may still be unacceptably expensive. Therefore, in many cases a two-dimensional model is considered. Here an overview of the possibilities of two-dimensional simulations is given. For this, simulation and measurement of a straight turning process on AISI 1045 steel is presented. In the numerical analysis, material behavior and its failure was described by Johnson-Cook law, considering damage evolution. Coupled thermo-mechanical model with mass-scaling and adaptive remeshing was built. The numerically obtained cutting force was compared to the measured data. It was found that the forces obtained with simulation and the measured ones show good agreement. Sensitivity analyses were performed to examine the influence of specific parameters on the reaction force. The effect of these parameters is also shown

Numerical and experimental study of a flexible robotic grinding process

Robotic grinding is among the least studied processes due to its complexity compared to conventional grinding and other machining processes. In robotic grinding with a light, flexible robot, low manipulator stiffness is a key factor affecting process behavior and causing impact phenomena. Force prediction and thermal damage are important aspects to consider in robotic grinding because of the vibrational nature of the process. The portable robot used in the process under study is a multi-purpose track-based manipulator developed by IREQ, Hydro-Quebec’s research institute. The main application of this light-weight robot, named “SCOMPI” (Super COMPact robot Ireq), is in situ maintenance of hydro turbine runners. It is observed that the grinding process by this robot is interrupted at each revolution of the wheel rather than having a continous cutting action. This impact cutting behavior appears due to the low stiffness of the flexible manupulator under high grinding forces. Special attention has thus been given to gain a better understanding of the material removal process in such robotic grinding. The objective is to establish appropriate relations among chip formation, operational cutting forces, temperature, material removal rate and consumed power in the process. The purpose of this study is to use numerical and experimental methods to gain a better understanding of this flexible robotic grinding process. First, a finite element thermal analysis is carried out to evaluate thermal aspects of the process, such as the energy partition ratio and temperature distribution in the workpiece. A new representation of the heat source in line with the impacting effects of robotic grinding is considered in the model. Experimental measurements in conjunction with numerical analyses led to an energy partition model applicable to this study under varying operating conditions. In the second part, the topography of grinding wheels used in the process is characterized and related to depth of cut. The cutting edges of wheels have a significant effect in process efficiency and are essential in understanding material removal in the grinding process. The variation of wheel topography due to process conditions is demonstrated. Knowledge of the edges involved in cutting during the process are vital for micro-scale modeling of cutting interactions occuring in the wheel-workpiece contact zone. Ongoing work on micro-scale force modeling through FEM will benefit from this wheel topography study. The third part of this thesis is dedicated to enhancing the empirical basis for an existing force model of the process. An impact cutting regime is observed by means of high-speed camera recordings and measured process force signals. This regime is detected at different grinding power levels and used in identifying the empirical coefficients. The energy partition model from the first part of study is also incorporated to obtain a friction-chip energy ratio used to determine the force model constants

Challenges and issues in continuum modelling of tribology, wear, cutting and other processes involving high-strain rate plastic deformation of metals

Contribution of finite element method (FEM) as a modelling and simulation technique to represent complex tribological processes has improved our understanding about various biomaterials. This paper presents a review of the advances in the domain of finite element (FE) modelling for simulating tribology, wear, cutting and other processes involving high-strain rate plastic deformation of metals used in bio tribology and machining. Although the study is largely focused on material removal cases in metals, the modelling strategies can be applied to a wide range of other materials. This study discusses the development of friction models, meshing and remeshing strategies, and constitutive material models. The mesh-based and meshless formulations employed for bio tribological simulations with their advantages and limitations are also discussed. The output solution variables including scratch forces, local temperature, residual stresses are analyzed as a function of input variables