Optimization of process parameters on surface roughness during drilling of GFRP composites using taguchi technique

Abstract

In order to overcome the problems of conventional drilling such as delamination, chipping of matrix, heat effected zone and poor surface roughness during conventional drilling of fiber reinforced polymer composites, selected as unconventional machining process. In present paper, the influence of hydraulic pressure, stand of distance, abrasive flow rate, fiber orientation, material thickness and abrasive mesh size during abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) of GFRP/Epoxy composites on surface quality is investigated. The experiments are designed as per the Taguchi L27 orthogonal array. The experimental results are statistically analyzed using the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) in order to correlate the AWJM process parameters and response parameters. From the experimental results, it was found that abrasive mesh size was considered to be the most significant factor influencing the surface roughness.