Simulation of abrasive waterjet machining based on unit event features

Abstract

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) machining is a non-conventional process. Its most striking advantage is the absence of a heat-affected zone. AWJ machining can be successfully used on a very broad spectrum of materials, regardless of their brittleness, ductility or composition. However, this machining process has the disadvantage of striations being left on the surface of the machined workpiece. Since forecasting of the results of this process is still on the empirical level, great efforts are being put into the modelling of the AWJ process. In this paper, an original model of the AWJ machining process is presented. It is based on an AWJ process unit event, which in this case represents the impact of a particular abrasive grain. The geometrical characteristics of the unit event are measured on a physical model of the AWJ process. The measured dependencies and the proposed model relations are then implemented in AWJ machining process simulation.