Finite Element Modelling of EDM of Aluminum Particulate Metal Matrix Composites Considering Temperature Dependent Properties

Abstract

Received: 15 November 2018 Accepted: 23 January 2019 This research paper deals with the study of the thermal modeling of Al-A359 reinforced with 10 % SiC Composites (Particulate metal matrix Composite) machined by Electrical Discharge machining (EDM). The composite has been fabricated by Powder metallurgy (P/M) route. Due to high hardness of the Graphite reinforced particle it has been always difficult to machine these composites by the conventional machining route. In this investigation EDM procedure has been introduced to machining the PMMC. The numerical model has been developed by designing a 3D axi-symmetric work domain with the help of Finite analysis software. The effect of variable thermal properties on the modeling of PMMC is also introduced in this study. The effect of three different types of heat source (Disk heat, Point heat & Gaussian heat source) on the Al-A359 Composite machining has been analyzed. From the analysis it can be concluded that the Gaussian heat source model with varying Specific heat (Model-III) has been validated with the experimental result with least error of 11 %. The highest Material removal rate of 25.12 (*10 mm/min). At 10 A current, 100V voltage and 100μS Pulse-On time has been estimated.