Investigations on micro-cutting mechanism and surface quality of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic composites

To study micro-cutting mechanism of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites, a constitutive model of CFRP composites considering random distribution of carbon fiber in the plastic composites is proposed in this paper. Brittle material model is utilized to simulate carbon fiber, interpolation method is used to approach the stress-strain relationship of resin matrix, and traction separation cohesive model is applied to model the interfacial phase between fiber and matrix, all of which make the model close to actual mechanical performance of CFRP composites. Further, a three-dimensional FEM simulation model for the micro-cutting process of CFRP composites is built, and micro-cutting experiments are conducted to verify the FEM simulation results. On the basis of FEM simulation and micro-cutting experiments, the mechanism of deformation and damage of fiber reinforcement, matrix, and interfacial phase in the micro-cutting process are studied, and the influences of cutting speed, cutting depth, and fiber orientation are analyzed.