Finite element simulation of high-pressure water-jet assisted metal cutting

Experimental studies have shown that improved metal cutting efficiency can be obtained when a high-pressure water/coolant jet is injected at the tool–chip interface. The pressure exerted on the chip face by the jet is expected to reduce, for example, friction along the tool–chip interface, temperature rise in the chip and the workpiece, the cutting force, and residual stress in the finished workpiece, leading to a longer tool life and a better surface integrity for the finished workpiece. This paper presents the results of finite element simulations of high-pressure water-jet assisted orthogonal metal cutting, in which the water jet is injected directly into the tool–chip interface through a small hole on the rake face of the tool. The mechanical effect of the high-pressure water jet is approximated as a pressure loading at the tool–chip interface. The frictional interaction along the tool–chip interface is modeled by using a modified Coulomb friction law. Chip separation is modeled by a nodal release technique and is based on a critical stress criterion. The effect of temperature, strain rate and large strain is considered. Cooling effect of the high-pressure jet on the temperature distribution is modeled with a convective heat-transfer coefficient. The effect of water jet hole position and pressure is studied. Contour plots showing the distributions of steady-state temperature and stress and the residual stress are presented. The simulation results show a reduction in temperature, the cutting force and residual stresses for water-jet assisted cutting conditions. The mechanical effect of the water jet is found to reduce the contact pressure and shear stress along the tool–chip interface and also the contact zone length for certain water jet hole locations.