Simulation and experimental research on longitudinal-torsional ultrasonic vibration drilling of CFRP/Ti laminates

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and titanium alloy (Ti) laminated materials are extensively employed as primary load-bearing structures in aerospace engineering due to their exceptional characteristics. During the drilling process of CFRP/Ti laminates, issues like delamination and burr formation significantly impede the overall performance of these laminates. The finite element simulation was carried out to address above challenges using longitudinal-torsional ultrasonic vibration drilling (LT-UVD) of CFRP/Ti laminates. A three-dimensional solid model of CFRP/Ti laminates was developed using the ABAQUS custom VUMAT subroutine interface. A cohesive element was skillfully incorporated into the model to simulate delamination defects in the CFRP material effectively and to elucidate the material damage trends and stress distribution throughout the drilling process of laminated materials. The results obtained from the finite element simulation are meticulously compared with experimental data, revealing a consistent trend in the axial force curve. The simulated axial force’s peak value is 14.45% lower than the peak value obtained from experimental observations. The findings of this research substantiate the efficacy of the developed finite element model for LT-UVD of CFRP/Ti. The model successfully predicted the changing trend of axial force and layered defects during the drilling process. Moreover, it provides a visually intuitive instantaneous cutting state and stress distribution, imparting valuable insights into the intricate drilling mechanisms involved in CFRP/Ti laminates.