EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH INTO MARBLE CUTTING BY ABRASIVE WATER JET

The article presents research on the erosion of the metamorphic rock - marble by the Abrasive Water Jet (AWJ). The fragmentation of abrasive grains during the erosion process is demonstrated. The effect of the cutting process's most important parameters as traverse speed, nozzle ID, and abrasive mass flow rate, on the maximum cutting depth, is shown. To create a mathematical-statistic model of the erosion process, the methodology of the response surface (RSM) was used for modeling. The polynomial equation of the second degree is chosen for developing the regression model. Studies have shown the optimal parameters of the process, to reach the highest depth of the cut. Additionally, the erosion wear of a focusing tube under different process conditions is presented.