Delamination and thrust force mitigation during drilling of unidirectional CFRP laminate using magnetorheological elastomer

Abstract In the new improvement of the aviation industries, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) is a buoyant material due to its noteworthy and application-friendly properties. The behavior of transversely isotropic CFRP, which prompts drilling-induced delamination, is the most critical damage that leads to the rejection of the final product. The cause of delamination damage is the thrust force generated by the drilling tool during the machining operation. The present work proposes an indigenous approach to suppress delamination significantly using magnetorheological elastomer (MRE). The thrust force generated by the drilling tool is recorded for varying magnetic field strengths. Delamination damage was computed using MATLAB script. Meanwhile, a specific focus was given to study the interlaminar mechanics of a drilled hole through scanning electron microscopy. The results show that nearly 45% of thrust force is reduced using this MRE at a maximum field strength of 0.4T compared to a conventional one. The results are further supported by smoothening of 22% and 30% of delamination at the hole's entry and exit, respectively. Thus, this approach helps to reduce delamination during the drilling.