Numerical Simulation of Workpiece Thermal Field in Drilling CFRP/Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

Machining is a process implying extremely high coupled thermo-mechanical stresses. The workpiece mechanical properties decrease with the temperature generated during the process and that temperature has a direct influence on wear intensity undergone by the tool. In the case of a drilling operation, the temperature generated by the cutting process can lead to metal burr formation and/or composite matrix degradation by burning. When these two materials are used in the form of a sandwich-type stacking, the temperature attained in the metallic part can cause new defects such as: i) a difference between the diameters measured in each material and ii) organic matrix damages due to heat diffusion from the metal towards the CFRP layer. Temperature reached at the tool/workpiece interface is difficult to measure during drilling operation, due to its enclosed configuration; numerical simulation is therefore a good alternative to access to this information. The purpose of this study is to develop and carry out numerical simulations in order to estimate the workpiece thermal field generated during drilling. The simulations are validated by comparing simulated and measured temperatures at 4 mm from the holes wall. This method is applied to evaluate thermal field generated during drilling (with chip removing cycles) of CFRP/Aluminum alloy stacks. The influence of the drilling kinematics on the workpiece thermal field is also investigated.