Modelling and Simulation of Metal Cutting by Finite Element Method

Abstract

Metal cutting is one of the most widely used manufacturing techniques in the industry and there are lots of studies to investigate this complex process in both academic and industrial world. Predictions of important process variables such as temperature, cutting forces and stress distributions play significant role on designing tool geometries and optimising cutting conditions. Researchers find these variables by using experimental techniques which makes the investigation very time consuming and expensive. At this point, finite element modelling and simulation becomes main tool. These important cutting variables can be predicted without doing any experiment with finite element method. This thesis covers a study on modelling and simulation of orthogonal metal cutting by finite element method. For this purpose, orthogonal cutting simulations of AISI 1045 steel are performed and model used in simulations is validated. At first step, effects of work piece flow stress and friction models on cutting variables such as cutting forces, chip geometry and temperature are investigated by comparing simulation results with experimental results available in the literature. Then, mechanical and thermal analyses are performed. Lastly, effects of rake angle and tool tip radius on strain, temperature and stress distributions are investigated.