Investigation of displacement fields in an abrasive waterjet drilling process: Part 2. Numerical analysis

In this paper, the displacement fields associated with the abrasive waterjet (AWJ) drilling process were simulated using the finite element method. A three-dimensional finite element model was established, and justifiable pressure loads were used in the numerical model to simulate the AWJ drilling process. It was assumed that the pressure load in the AWJ could be resolved into three components, such as impact jet pressure, shear and normal pressure. The effect of these three pressure loads and their magnitudes on the surface displacement were investigated as a function of the jet penetration depth through numerical modeling. Using the hybrid experimental-numerical stress analysis approach, the transient state of stress and strain associated with the notch crest of the jet-induced hole at the impingement zone of the target material during AWJ piercing can be modeled numerically. It was found that the shear contributed the most in shaping the displacement contour patterns and that the jet pressure did not play a dominant role in determining the u field displacement. The jet pressure and shear had the most effect on the v field displacement contour pattern. It was demonstrated that the principal stresses at the bottom of the cavity increase as the depth of the hole increases.