MACHINING STUDIES OF UNI-DIRECTIONAL GLASS FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC (UD-GFRP) COMPOSITES PART 1: EFFECT OF GEOMETRICAL AND PROCESS PARAMETERS

Secondary manufacturing processes such as machining is often needed to impart dimensional tolerance and assembly requirements to Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) components despite the numerous difficulties encountered. Sub-surface damages in FRP products and reduction of product life due to machining is a new challenge for the industry and academia alike. Research works are underway to design suitable cutting tools in order to minimize these problems. The present study tried to investigate the various effects of geometrical and process parameters on the machining characteristics of UD-GFRP composites. The results of the study are analyzed in terms of chip formation observation, cutting forces and sub-surface damage.