Analysis and Simulation of Air Flow Field Surrounding Grinding Wheel

Abstract

In grinding, high specific heat is generated and hence it is very important for the fluid to remove heat from the grinding contact zone to avoid thermal damage to the workpiece surface and/or sub-surface layers. In conventional grinding, a stiff air layer is generated due to the rotation of the porous grinding wheel at high speed. Hence, most of fluid isn’t penetrated into the grinding contact zone because of the stiff air layer around the grinding wheel. To improve grinding fluid cooling effection and avoid thermal damage, it is necessary to analyze the air flow and stiff air layer around the grinding wheel. Based on fluid dynamics and mathematical simulation method, the 3D finite element model of the air flow field around the grinding wheel is developed. The air flow pressure field and flow velocity near the grinding zone are analyzed. In results, the pressure and the velocity of the air flow near the grinding zone increase with the wheel speed increase, and the pressure and the velocity of the air flow near the grinding zone increase with the minimum gap between the grinding wheel and the workpiece reducing. After the air is drived by the grinding wheel into the high pressure area near the grinding zone, the air flows around both sides of the grinding wheel and there are no obvious returning air flow phenomena.