Smooth Particle Hydrodynamic (SPH) Modeling of Grinding the SiC-SiC Ceramic Matrix Composite

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Bergs
• Subject Area: Metal-Cutting and Abrasive Manufacturing Engineering
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426949379

In this research project the material removal and damage mechanisms in grinding of the silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide (SiC-SiC) ceramic matrix composite (CMC) using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) modeling are investigated. SiC-SiC has excellent high temperature material properties. Thus, SiC-SiC is an ideal material for aircraft engine and power generation turbine applications. Critical targets regarding dimensional accuracy and surface integrity of SiC-SiC are reached with help of the grinding process. However, the material removal and damage mechanisms in grinding of SiC-SiC are insufficiently known, so that a prediction of the process result is not yet possible. Therefore, costly preliminary tests must be carried out. Modeling of SiC-SiC grinding is important to gain a fundamental understanding of the material removal and damage mechanisms. The large negative rake angle of the cutting edges, random orientation and distribution of abrasive grains, large strain and high strain rates, deformation and fracture of the SiC fiber, the fiber-matrix interface and the matrix made modelling of the SiC-SiC grinding technically challenging. The SPH-method, a mesh-free Lagrangian method to address large local distortions and grain-workpiece interaction, will be used to overcome these barriers.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Partner Organisation: National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Albert Shih
• Co-Investigator: Dr.-Ing. Patrick Mattfeld