Principles and approaches for the machining simulation of ceramic matrix composites at microscale: A review and outlook

Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) are advanced materials composed of ceramic fibers embedded in a ceramic matrix, resulting in a highly durable and lightweight composite structure offering exceptional high-temperature performance, excellent mechanical properties, and superior resistance to wear and corrosion. CMC find applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and defense, where high strength and thermal stability are crucial. Despite their numerous advantages, machining CMC presents unique challenges. The hardness and brittleness of ceramics make them difficult to machine using conventional methods. The abrasive nature of ceramic particles can rapidly wear down cutting tools, leading to decreased tool life and increased costs. Numeric simulations for the machining of CMC are therefore particularly interesting due to their ability to provide insights into tool-material interactions and optimize machining parameters without the need for expensive and time-consuming physical trials. This paper discusses existing methods and approaches from different materials like Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) and monolithic ceramics and puts forward an outlook for the numerical simulation of the machining process of CMC. (c) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.