Flow analysis of abrasive micro-blasting with glycerol and acrylamideas carrier medium using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

Continuous growth is observed in the fieldofNon-Traditional machining where the machiningof newly developing materials is the need of the current segment. Nowadays Abrasive Fluid Jet Machining has used to machine a wide range of elastic and plastic materials including aerospace, automobile, ordinance and combat as well as day to day lifeapplications which require high strength to weight ratios. In Abrasive fluid jet machining, the abrasives are mixed with a liquid to form a slurry. The cutting performance is degraded by the rapid wear of the nozzle by the flow of the Abrasive Fluid mixture through the nozzles that lead to the divergence of the Abrasive Fluid Jet. The Angle of impingement affects the machining responses such that total cutting time has its influence. The Wear characteristics of the Nozzle Material are critical for such machining. The Nozzle inlet pressure of the abrasive fluid jet has a magnanimous effect on the erosion characteristics inside the nozzle. An analysis was carried out with constant Nozzle Taper angle and with Glycerol & Acrylamide solution as a carrier medium. The aim of this work is to analyze the effect of inlet operating pressure on wall shear and exit kinetic energy with respect to glycerol and Acrylamide solution. The two-phase flow analysis was carried by using a computational fluid dynamics tool CFX. The availability of optimized process parameters of abrasive fluid jet machining is limited to water practically. The other Carrier Medium for Abrasive Fluid Jet Machining can be explored widely. In this case, computational fluid dynamics analysis might provide better results than the real-time experimental work.