Optimization of drilling parameters for fiber metal mesh laminate composites using Grey relational analysis

Abstract

Abstract Fiber metal laminate (FML) composite materials are an economical alternative to engineering materials because of their superior properties. While assembling these composites, drilling is unavoidable. Drilling of such materials is a difficult task because of the drilling induced damage. Reducing this damage requires an optimization of the drilling parameters. The main focus on the optimization of the process parameters in drilling of fiber metal mesh laminate (FMML) composites lies in the application of the Taguchi procedure with Grey relational analysis (GRA). In the respective drilling experiments, coated drills were used for the FMML which was specially made with stainless steel wire mesh (SSWM) in the middle layer and woven glass fiber on top and on bottom layer using vacuum bag molding. The drilling parameters such as point angle, spindle speed and feed rate were optimized with concern of multiple performance characteristics, such as thrust force, delamination factor and roundness. The results of the GRA indicate that the feed rate is the most influential parameter. The experimental results illustrate that with the help of the optimal drilling conditions, the machining performance in the complete composite component production process can be improved.