Assessment of thrust force, delamination and temperature during drilling of basalt fiber-reinforced composite with different drill geometries

Abstract

Basalt fiber-reinforced composites (BFRC) are globally recognized for their superior mechanical properties, resistance to moisture absorption and corrosive substances and environments, which have led to their widespread use in industrial applications. Drilling of BFRC has fascinated researchers because of its non-homogeneous and anisotropic nature and various challenges associated with it. This research article explores the assessment of thrust force, delamination and temperature during drilling of BFRC made through the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Different feed rates (FR) (0.07, 0.17, 0.27 mm rev–1) and spindle speeds (SS) (1000, 3000, 5000 RPM) also drill geometries such as parabolic, twist, and center drill were considered for parametric study. The study employed a full factorial design (FFD) to evaluate thrust forces (TF), delamination factor (DF), and drilling temperature (DT). ANOVA was used to determine the contributions of drilling parameters, while multivariable regression analysis (MRA) was utilized to establish predictive empirical models. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was also conducted through the drilled hole for understanding of drilling behaviour and surface morphology. Results have demonstrated that feed rate significantly influenced delamination (61.62%) and thrust force (62.73%), whereas drill geometry and spindle speed had the greatest impact on drilling temperature by 55.26% and 33.04%, respectively.