AWJC of NiTi interleaved r-GO embedded carbon/aramid fibre intermetallic laminates: Experimental investigations and optimization through BMOA

Laminated metal-composite structures or fiber metal laminates (FMLs) are advanced engineering materials currently being utilized in several distinct applications, especially in aircraft and automobile manufacturing industries where an improved impact and fatigue resistance are required. Machining of FMLs is an important task in obtaining near-net shapes for joining and assembly of the components. However, the delamination occurs during conventional machining making FMLs as difficult-to-machine materials. Therefore, the present study will look into the abrasive water jet cutting (AWJC) of novel fiber intermetallic laminates (FILs) made of with alternatively stacked carbon/aramid fiber adhesively bonded with r-GO filled epoxy resin matrix and Nitinol shape memory alloy sheet embedded laminates. The AWJC experiments were performed on fabricated FILs to investigate the cut quality features including kerf taper (K-t), surface roughness (Ra) and kerf deviation (KD) by varying addition of r-GO from 0-2 wt% in the laminates, traverse speed (400-600 mm/min), waterjet pressure (200-300MPa) and nozzle height (2-4 mm), respectively. Statistical results obtained through ANOVA reveals that the traverse speed and nozzle height are the utmost significant variables which influencing the cut quality characteristics followed by waterjet pressure. Surface morphology analysis shows the wear and erosion mechanism of FILs at varying AWJC conditions. For an improved cut quality, the optimal AWJC parameters are achieved through a metaheuristic-based Barnacles Mating Optimization Algorithm (BMOA).