Mohd Azman Yahaya

Selection of densification strain to predict dynamic crushing stress at high impact velocity of ALPORAS aluminium foam

Cellular material such as aluminium foam has been considered as a potential material for energy absorption upon impact and blast loadings. One of the most important properties that contribute to this feature is the densification strain. At high impact velocity, prediction of the densification strain from quasi-static engineering stress-strain curve has been found inadequate. Furthermore, theoretical prediction using the equation proposed by Reid et al. always over-predicts the dynamic crushing stress. Formation of the shock wave at high impact velocity is believed to further increase the densification level of the foam. However, this effect is disregarded when determining the densification strain quasi-statically. The present study aims to address this issue by determining the densification strain experimentally from impact tests. Forty cylindrical aluminium foams with three different lengths were used as projectiles and were fired towards a rigid load cell by using a gas gun. The peak forces generated from the impact were recorded and analysed. The experimental densification strains were determined physically by measuring the deformation of the foam projectiles after the tests. It is concluded that, at high impact velocity, the densification strain varies with the initial impact velocity. Therefore an appropriate value of densification strain needs to be used in the equation of dynamic crushing stress for a better approximation.

Modelling Kerf Width in WEDM titanium alloy using response surface methodology

Wire electrical discharge machining is a material removal process of electrically conductive materials by the thermo-electric source of energy. This kind of machining extensively used in machining of materials with highly precision productivity. This work presents the machining of titanium alloy (TI-6AL-4V) using wire electro-discharge machining with brass wire diameter 0.5mm.The objective of this work is to study the influence of three machining parameters namely peak current, pulse off time and wire tension to kerf width followed by suggesting the best operating parameters towards good machining characteristics. A full factorial experimental design was used with variation of peak current, feed rate and wire tension, with results evaluated using analysis of variance techniques (ANOVA). The test array was further extended to allow for the implementation of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) analysis in order to develop first and second order models for the prediction of kerf width response. The results showed that average percentage error between the predicted and experimental value for kerf width models was less than 2%.

Investigation of Cutting Edge Radius Effect in Macro-machining and Micro-machining

Chip formation is a dynamic process that is often nonlinear in nature. A chip may not form when the depth of cut is less than a minimum chip thickness. This paper presents an investigation of cutting edge radius effect in macro- and micro-machining of AISI D2 steel via simulation using ABAQUS software. Through the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian FE modeling approach, the chip growth, chip formation, and cutting force were investigated under three criteria such as a/r 1, and a/r = 1. The results from this simulation can provide useful information for choosing reasonable cutting edge to improve surface integrity and prolong cutting tool life in macro- and micro-milling operation. It is found that the chip is formed at a/r > 1 while material extrusion performed under a/r < 1. The investigation on the cutting force found that value of a/r ratios greatly affects the cutting force. The cutting mechanism in micro-milling is similar to macro-milling due to the process undergoes both ploughing and shearing mechanism.

Characteristics of machining parameters on WEDM titanium alloy

Wire electrical discharge machining is a material removal process of electrically conductive materials by the thermo-electric source of energy. This kind of machining extensively used in machining of materials with highly precision productivity. This work presents the machining of titanium alloy (TI-6AL-4V) using wire electro-discharge machining with brass wire diameter 0.5mm.The objective of this work is to study the influence of three machining parameters namely peak current, pulse off time and wire tension to cutting rate, material removal rate, surface roughness and kerf width followed by suggesting the best operating parameters towards good machining characteristics. A full factorial experimental design was used with variation of peak current, feed rate and wire tension, with results evaluated using analysis of variance techniques. Parameter levels were chosen based on best practice and results from preliminary testing. Main effects plots and percentage contribution ratios are included for the main factors and their interactions.

Influence of Depth of Cut on Contact Phenomenon in Micromachining

Chip formation is a dynamic process that is often nonlinear in nature. A chip may not form when the depth of cut is less than a minimum chip thickness. It is aimed to investigate influence of depth of cut on contact phenomenon in micromachining. This paper presents a series of simulation works by finite element method on depth of cut effect on micromachining. A model is developed with consideration of the Johnson-Cook material and Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method. In this work investigate the effect of depth of cut on the contact phenomenon during micromachining AISI D2. The results of the analysis are showed in aspects of interrelationship between material separation and frictional shear contact, distribution of stick-slide regions and contact stress on the work piece and cutting tool. It is found that the sticking and sliding was occurred on three zones as primary, secondary and tertiary shear zone. The contact phenomena can be showed around the tool edge radius where material flows around it and piles in front of the cutting tool through material separation. The investigation of contact phenomena inclusive under three criteria such as a/r < 1, a/r > 1 and a/r = 1 on positive rake angle.

A study on kerf and material removal rate in wire electricaldischarge machining of Ti-6Al-4V: multi-objectives optimization

This paper presents an investigation on the effect and optimization of machining parameters on the kerf (cutting width) and material removal rate (MRR) of titanium alloy (TI-6AL-4V) using wire electrical discharge machining WEDM with a brass wire diameter of 0.5mm. The experimental studies were conducted under varyingpulse-off time, peak current, wire feed and wire tension. The settings of machining parameters were determined by using Taguchi experimental design method. The multiple performance characteristics based on the statistical-based analysis of variance (ANOVA) and grey relational analysis (GRA) was attempted. Analysis of variance was used to study the significance of process parameters on grey relational grade (GRG) which showed the most significant factor. The GRG obtained from the GRA was used to optimize the WEDM process. The optimum process parameters are determined by the GRG as the overall performance index. To validate the findings, confirmation experiment had been carried out at the optimal set of parameters, and the predicted results were found to be in good agreements with experimental findings. Improved machining performance in the WEDM process has been achieved by using this approach.

Experimental Study of Sandwich Panels Subjected to Foam Projectile Impact

Similar blast loading characteristics can be obtained using impact of aluminium foam projectiles, which enables blast tests to be mimicked in a laboratory scale and in a safer environment. The purpose of this study is to determine the back-face deflection history of aluminium sandwich panels experimentally by aids of a laser displacement meter when panels are subjected to the impact of metal foam projectiles. This information was usually determined using finite element analysis (FEA) due to the difficulty in the experiment. The projectiles are cylindrical ALPORAS aluminium foam with diameter of 37 mm, length of 50 mm and nominal relative density of 10%. The sandwich panels consist of two 1 mm aluminium face-sheets and an aluminium honeycomb as the core. There are five different core configurations with a brand name of HEXCEL. The projectiles are fired towards the centre of the sandwich panels at different velocities using a gas gun. During the tests, a laser optical displacement measuring device is used to record the history of the back-face deflection experimentally. The deflection of the back-face is found to reach the maximum before coming to rest at a smaller value. The final back-face deflections of the sandwich panels show exponential relationship with the projectile impulse. The final deflections are compared with the deflection of monolithic plates with equal mass. The sandwich panels deflect less than the monolithic plate with an equal mass up to a critical value but continue to increase significantly afterwards. Care should be taken when using sandwich panels as protective structures against foam projectiles as beyond this point, the monolithic plates outperform the sandwich panels in absorbing the impact load.