INFLUENCE OF FIBRE VOLUME REINFORCEMENT IN DRILLING GFRP LAMINATES

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation on the influence of fiber volume reinforcement on various aspects of machining. Drilling experiments were conducted to study the tool wear, surface finish, delamination factor and hole quality on GFRP composites. The work reports the variation of tool wear, surface roughness, hole quality, chip characteristics, delamination factor with the variation of fibre volume reinforcement. Results revealed that the increase in fiber percentage increased the tool wear, delamination factor, surface roughness value and decreased hole quality. Minimum surface roughness, tool wear and better hole quality was obtained for 30% fibre content composites. 70% Fibre content composites produced hazardous surface roughness. Pull out of fibres and fibril formation are significant in decreasing the hole quality and increased surface roughness. Increased tool – fibre interaction and thermal softening of the tool causes increased tool wear. In higher fibre content composites, extensive plasticity was absent consequently brittle ceramic fibres were fractured easily. Hence small segment type chips were obtained. The fibre pull out and fibrils present near the hole exit forms the remainder of the laminate causes increased damage zone near the hole exit. Hence high delamination factor was obtained.

Keywords

• GFRP
• Composites
• Drilling
• Fibre volume fraction
• delamination