Study on the cutting mechanics characteristics of high-strength UD-CFRP laminates based on orthogonal cutting method

High-strength unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (UD-CFRP) has gradually become one major material for primary load-bearing structural components of aircrafts, and related machining demands are also ever increasing. Owing to its prominent anisotropy and heterogeneity, UD-CFRP laminate has rather poor machinability. This paper conducted orthogonal cutting tests on T700/800 high-strength UD-CFRP laminates, and investigated machining mechanism by studying cutting mechanics characteristics in cutting process, in order to provide the basis for improving their machinability. Experimental results showed that the cutting force and specific cutting energy of T700 and T800 UD-CFRP laminates were all significantly directional; and at the conditions of same fiber orientation angle, greater cutting force and specific cutting energy were found for cutting of T800 UD-CFRP than that for cutting of T700. As the cutting speed increased, main cutting force and radial thrust force both decreased and specific energy map shrank rapidly, indicating reduced cutting energy consumption, and improved machinability of CFRPs. With the increase in cutting depth, main cutting force and radial thrust force both exhibited increasing trends, but specific cutting energy map narrowed, indicating improved machinability. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.