The machining of Nomex honeycomb structures represents a technical and scientific barrier for aeronautical applications. The difficulties encountered during the machining of this type of material are linked to the low density of Nomex paper, and to the low thickness of the walls forming the honeycomb cells of this type of structure. In this work, a finite element calculation code "ABAQUS`-EXPLICIT" was used to optimize and analyze the machining by milling of Nomex honeycomb structures. The main objective of this work is to study the influence of the machining conditions on the cutting forces, and the morphology of the chips.
In machining, tool/workpiece interface parameters are complicated to estimate by experimental means alone. Numerical methods can then give critical solutions to predict and analyze the parameters influencing the machining. The friction between the tool and the cutter has a direct influence on the milling parameters. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the friction mechanism between the tool and the workpiece to estimate the milling parameters of Nomex honeycomb structures correctly. This work aims to present a 3D Finite Element numerical model allowing the prediction of the cutting forces correctly, the morphology of the chips, and the surface quality generated during the milling of this type of structure. These studies were obtained using the commercial software ABAQUS/Explicit. It has been demonstrated that the coupling between the isotropic elastoplastic approach and the Coulomb friction law can easily simulate the milling of Nomex honeycomb structures and gives excellent results in comparison with those obtained experimentally.
The milling of aluminum honeycomb structures represents today an important scientific and technical research topic for many industrial applications: aerospace, aeronautic, automotive, and naval. The difficulties encountered when milling this type of materials are linked to the small thickness of the walls constituting the honeycomb cells and the ductility of the material structure. The milling of cellular composite structures requires specific and rigorous tools. In the present work, a 3D numerical modeling of the milling process of aluminum honeycombs has been developed using Abaqus / Explicit software. The effect of milling parameters, such as the spindle speed, the tilt angle, and the depth of cut have been particularly investigated in terms of cutting forces, surface integritu and chip morphology. To properly analyze and optimize the cutting process, experimental validation was done through milling tests with different cutting conditions. The comparison between numerical simulations and experimental tests shows that the three-dimensional model correctly reproduces the milling of this type of structure.
The Nomex honeycomb core has been widely used in many industrial fields, especially the aircraft and aerospace industries, due to its high strength and stiffness to heaviness ratio. Machining of the Nomex honeycomb structure is usually associated with tearing of the walls, deformations of the cells and the appearance of burrs. Therefore, milling of the Nomex honeycomb structure represents an industrial hurdle challenge for scientists and researchers about the quality of the machined surface and the integrity of the cutting tool. In response to this problem, we have developed a three-dimensional numerical model of finite elements based on the real conditions of experimental work by means of the analysis software Abaqus. Based on the developed numerical model, an experimental validation was performed by comparing the quality of the surface and the adhesive wear of the cutting tool determined from the numerical simulation and that established by the experiment. In addition, the effect of geometric parameters in terms of wedge angle and cutting tool diameter on material accumulation, chip size, generated surface and cutting forces was analyzed. The results of the quantitative analysis prove that the choice of cutting conditions and cutting tool geometry in terms of favorable rake angle and tool diameter improves the surface quality of the generated part and optimizes the integrity of the cutting tool.
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