Proceedings of the ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition

IMECE2014
November 14-20, 2014, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

IMECE2014-37046
Study of Cutting Speed Variation in the Ultrasonic Assisted Drilling of Carbon
Fibre Composites
Aniruddha Gupta
WMG, University of Warwick
Coventry, West Midlands, UK

Iain McEwen
School of Engineering,
University of Warwick
Coventry, West Midlands, UK

Stuart Barnes
WMG, University of Warwick
Coventry, West Midlands, UK

Nadia Kourra
WMG, University of Warwick
Coventry, West Midlands, UK

ABSTRACT
Ultrasonic assisted drilling (UAD) has been proven
effective for the thrust force reduction as compared to
conventional drilling (CD) for same machining parameters. The
following research was focused on the examination of exit
delamination, machined surface and cutting temperature
measurement in UAD and a comparison to that in CD at the
cutting speeds of 0.942 m/min, 9.42 m/min, 94.2 m/min and
282.6 m/min at a constant feed rate of 0.05 mm/rev in the
through-hole drilling of CFRP material. X-Ray computed
tomography (CT) was used to identify the exit delamination,
internal damage, circularity and center deviation in CD and
UAD. A maximum of 82.8% reduction in the center deviation
and 33.2% reduction in circularity of the holes were found
when drilled in UAD as compared to those in CD. Furthermore,
the cutting temperature in the drilling of CFRP has been
measured and compared for both the cases of CD and UAD.
Ultrasonic assistance produced 10C higher cutting temperature
than that in CD at the cutting speed of 282.6 m/min while at
lower cutting speeds (0.942 m/min and 9.42 m/min), the cutting
temperatures with and without ultrasonic assistance did not
have a significant difference (2C and 4C respectively).
1. INTRODUCTION
Carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are attractive as
aircraft and aerospace structural components due to their lighter
weight and higher specific strength as compared to metals [17] which has led to greater weight savings resulting in greater
pay load, longer range and fuel saving in comparison to the
metals [8]. In spite of curing to the final shape, the machining
of composites is required at several stages of the production
e.g. cutting and drilling of holes. The mechanical drilling

Mark A. Williams
WMG, University of Warwick
Coventry, West Midlands, UK

process is one of the final processes in the manufacturing of the

composite components [2]. The conventional drilling (CD) of
CFRPs has been proven difficult due to delamination and short
tool life. According to a study [1], 60% of all the part rejections
in air craft industry is associated with delamination in drilling.
For carbon fibre composites, high thrust force is
considered to be the most detrimental to CFRP drilling due to
delamination and damage inside the holes in a drilling process
[9, 10]. Some researchers have reported that the longer tool life,
lower thrust force and segmented and smaller chip lengths have
been observed when drilling metals by introducing vibrations in
the drilling [11, 12]. The effects have been observed typically
when the frequency of the vibrations has been kept above
20 kHz because of achieving an intermittent cutting action [13].
Such type of drilling is known as Ultrasonic assisted drilling
(UAD) [7, 13, 14]. In the recent years, Makhdum et al. [15, 16]
have conducted experiments on CFRP to develop an
understanding for ultrasonic assisted drilling and found an
almost 90% reduction in the thrust force and generation of the
longer chips during UAD of CFRP. However, the effect on the
damage during the drilling was not a focus in their work. A
similar experimental study has also been conducted by
Mehbudi et al. [17] for glass fibre laminate (GFRP) material.
They conducted experiment at a low cutting speed (maximum
cutting speed = 31.4 m/min) and found UAD to be effective in
the reduction of thrust force and exit delamination. Sadek et al.
[18] have also reported obtaining zero exit delamination
between 113 m/min (6000 rpm) to 226 m/min (12000 rpm)
spindle speed having 0.025 mm/rev feed rate with 6 mm
diameter drill but no images having zero exit delamination were
presented in their work. Also, they used the oscillation

Copyright 2014 by ASME

frequencies of 30 Hz and 60 Hz which are not in ultrasonic

range.
For cases when the feed rate of the cutting tool is not
negligible in comparison to the cutting speed, the rake and
clearance angles are affected [19]. In the case of drilling, where
the feed rate is in the perpendicular direction to the cutting
speed, the feed rate becomes more dominating as compared to
cutting speed in terms of cutting and thrust forces when the
ultrasonic oscillations are imposed on the drill [19]. Because of
these ultrasonic modulations in the feed rate, the effective
normal rake angle of the twist drill at all the points on the
cutting edge varies rapidly (~114 angle variation within
26.9 s). This research was focused on the effect of the
effective normal rake angle variation on the thrust force,
internal damage of the machined surface of the holes, exit
delamination and the cutting temperature in the ultrasonic
assisted drilling of CFRP material. Four cutting speeds were
used 0.942 m/min, 9.42 m/min, 94.2 m/min and 282.6 m/min
at a constant feed rate of 0.05 mm/rev and comparison with that
in CD.
2. EFFECTIVE
NORMAL
RAKE
ANGLE
CALCULATION FOR CD AND UAD
In order to visualize the tool-material interaction in UAD, a
calculation was performed to identify the variation in the
effective normal rake angle during the drilling for a simple twoflute twist drill. Though similar calculation has also been
performed by Zhang et al. [20] and Wang et al [21] for the
vibration assisted drilling of CFRP materials while calculating
the mean thrust force and torque for CFRP materials, some of
the intermediate steps involving geometrical relationships for
the tool geometry were not clear even in the mentioned
references in their work. Therefore, it becomes essential to
mention the relevant equations used in the present research for
developing a fundamental understanding about the variations
generated because of ultrasonic oscillations on the effective
normal rake angle. Figure 1 shows the axial projection of the
chisel and cutting edges with the visualization of the cutting
velocity, feed velocity and the effect on axial rake and
clearance angles with the introduction of the feed velocity in
the work reference system for an arbitrary point i of the
cutting edge.

rc

ri i

Figure 1: Visualization of the rake and clearance angle in the work

reference system [19]

In order to calculate the effective normal rake angle, the

effect of feed rate on the orthogonal rake would have to be
considered at every point of the cutting edge [19].
As shown in the Figure 1 for the point i
XW = XD + i
(1)
i = tan1 (

(2)

= 2

(3)

Effective feed rate for CD,

Vf = S0 N;
Effective feed rate in UAD,
Vf = S0 N + a cos t
From the machining theory, [19, 20],

(4)
(5)

XD = tan1 ( tan )

(6)

The orthogonal rake angle in the work reference system is

given by [19]
tan =

tan

cos

(7)

sin
tan

Where, tan =

+ tan

cos

; tan =

tan
cos

= cone angle of the twist drill,

= sin1 ( )

Putting

the

respective

values

from

Equation 1 to 6 into Equation 7, the orthogonal rake angle for

UAD in the work reference system for point i of the cutting
edge in the Figure 1 is
tan

tan[tan

( tan )+ tan

)]+ tan

cos

sin

(8)
Hence, the effective normal rake angle in UAD [19]
tan

tan
cos

(9)

The effective normal rake angle variation has been plotted

and compared for the various cutting speeds in Figure 2 for CD
and UAD. It can be observed that the wave form of the
effective normal rake angle in UAD changes from step wave
(Figure 2(a)) to sinusoidal wave (Figure 2(d)) when cutting
speed is increased from 0.942 m/min (50 rpm) to 282.6 m/min
(15000 rpm) because as the cutting speed is increased, the point
of concern on the cutting edge moves a longer distance before
the ultrasonic oscillation completes an oscillation cycle. It can
also be observed that the value of the maximum rake angle in
an ultrasonic cycle reduces from 63.19, Figure 2(a), to 33.01,
Figure 2(d), when the speed is increased from 0.942 m/min
(50 rpm) to 282.6 m/min (15000 rpm) while the effective
normal rake angle in CD remains at 28.95 at all the cutting
speeds. Also, Figure 2(d) shows that the maximum normal rake
angle in the UAD varies from 33.01 to 26.33 which is close

Copyright 2014 by ASME

to the maximum effective normal rake angle in CD at

282.6 m/min (28.95) cutting speed.
Normal rake angle in CD and UAD in work reference system
80

Normal rake angle (deg)

60

r = 1.0 mm UAD
r = 1.4 mm UAD

40

r = 1.8 mm UAD
r = 2.2 mm UAD

20

r = 2.6 mm UAD
r = 3.0 mm UAD

0
0

20

40

60

80

-20

r = 1.0 mm CD
r = 1.4 mm CD
r = 1.8 mm CD
r = 2.2 mm CD

-40

r = 2.6 mm CD

ultrasonic frequency of 37.22 kHz and 2.9 m amplitude (peak to

peak) in UAD

In the work of Zhang et al. [20], because of using low

vibration frequency of 130 Hz, they obtained a small difference
of 4 between the effective normal rake angles in conventional
and vibration assisted drilling.
Arola et al. [22] have mentioned about the localization of
the damage while increasing the rake angle in the orthogonal
trimming of graphite/epoxy composite material. In order to
identify the effect of these rapid variations in the effective
normal rake angle in UAD, the drilling experiment was
performed further.

r = 3.0 mm CD

-60
Time (micro seconds)

Normal rake angle in CD and UAD in work reference system

80

Normal rake angle (deg)

60

r = 1.0 mm UAD
r = 1.4 mm UAD

40

r = 1.8 mm UAD
r = 2.2 mm UAD

20

r = 2.6 mm UAD
r = 3.0 mm UAD

0
0

20

40

60

80

-20

r = 1.0 mm CD
r = 1.4 mm CD
r = 1.8 mm CD
r = 2.2 mm CD

-40

r = 2.6 mm CD

r = 3.0 mm CD

-60
Time (micro seconds)

Normal rake angle in CD and UAD in work reference system

50

Normal rake angle (deg)

40

r = 1.0 mm UAD
r = 1.4 mm UAD

30

r = 1.8 mm UAD
r = 2.2 mm UAD

20

r = 2.6 mm UAD

10

r = 3.0 mm UAD
r = 1.0 mm CD

r = 1.4 mm CD

20

40

60

80

-10

r = 1.8 mm CD
r = 2.2 mm CD
r = 2.6 mm CD

-20

r = 3.0 mm CD

-30

Time (micro seconds)

Normal rake angle in CD and UAD in work reference system

35

Normal rake angle (deg)

30

r = 1.0 mm UAD
r = 1.4 mm UAD

25

r = 1.8 mm UAD
r = 2.2 mm UAD

20

r = 2.6 mm UAD
r = 3.0 mm UAD

15

r = 1.0 mm CD
r = 1.4 mm CD

10

r = 1.8 mm CD
r = 2.2 mm CD

r = 2.6 mm CD

r = 3.0 mm CD

0
0

20

40

60

80

Time (micro seconds)

Figure 2: Effective normal rake angle variation in CD and UAD at

cutting speeds of (a) 0.942 m/min, (b) 9.42 m/min, (c) 94.2 m/min
and (d) 282.6 m/min at with feed rate of 0.05 mm/rev having

3. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND PROCEDURE

Drilling was performed on an ULTRASONIC 65
monoBLOCK machine with an ultrasonic actuator built into
the tool holder. This machine works on the concept of the
reverse piezoelectric effect, wherein the transmission of the
high-frequency electrical signal to the piezo-elements in the
tool holder to the spindle is executed without contact
(inductive). An oscillation is generated in the axial direction
and is superimposed on the conventional tool rotation and feed
rate. This particular machine has a maximum capability of
18,000 rpm spindle speed and 40,000 mm/min feed rate. The
ultrasonic oscillation parameters depend upon the tool tool
holder combination. Once the drilling tool is located within the
tool holder, the optimum oscillation frequency is determined by
the machine. Also, the maximum oscillation amplitude is fixed.
The amplitude can be varied from 0% to 100% of the maximum
oscillation amplitude of tool tool holder combination. In the
present case, the frequency of the oscillation of the tool was
37220 Hz and the maximum oscillation amplitude was 2.9 m
(peak to peak).
The carbon fibre composite material was provided by BAE
Systems. It was a 7.4 mm thick unidirectional stack of -45, 0,
+45 and 90 orientations consecutively with woven carbon
fibre layer on the top and bottom having bismaleimide (BMI)
matrix. The drilling tool used in the experiment was uncoated
tungsten carbide, 3 flute twist drill having 6.0 mm diameter,
66.0 mm overall length and 150 point angle having flat rake
and clearance surfaces. The constant axial rake and clearance
angles (due to flat rake & clearance surfaces) were measured in
the laboratory, (rake angle = 6.40 and clearance angle =
10.56). This type of drill was recommended from the tool
manufacturer for good surface finish, high hole-accuracy,
reduced tool wear and longer tool life due to three cutting edges
as compared to 2-flute twist drill. The experiment was
conducted under dry-machining conditions.
The final experimental setup including the drill, the
ultrasonic actuator, dynamometer (Type 9257B), fixture and
the CFRP strip is shown in the Figure 3. To find out the
reproducibility, the experiment was repeated three times further
with the same drill. It was found that the variation of the values
was similar whereas the particular values were getting higher
due to the incremental tool wear after each drilling.

Copyright 2014 by ASME

CD

Ultrasonic actuator
CFRP strip

250

Thrust force (N)

Drill
Dynamometer

UAD

Fixture

230
210
190
170
150

Figure 3: Final experimental set-up having dynamometer, fixture

holding CFRP strip, ultrasonic tool holder and the 6 mm diameter
drilling tool

50

100

150

200

250

300

Cutting speed (m/min)

Figure 5: Average thrust force recorded CD and UAD

4.1. Thrust force

The thrust force was recorded using a Type 9257B Kistler
dynamometer and the average thrust force was considered as a
reading for each drilling as shown in the Figure 4.
The average was taken between the readings where the
thrust force was stable and away from the entrance/exit effects
of the hole. Distance drilled from 2 mm to 5 mm during drilling
was considered for the average for each drilling, e.g. the
average thrust force in the Figure 4 was measured between the
time instances of 120s to 192s for 0.942 m/min cutting speed as
the depth from 2 mm to 5 mm was drilled between these time
instances (considering 3 mm depth travelled by the tool prior to
drilling). The overall average values of thrust force
measurements for each parameter are plotted in the Figure 5.
The thrust force was found to be the maximum at the
lowest cutting speed of 0.942 m/min in CD and UAD, Figure 5.
Unlike reported by Mehbudi et al. [17] and Makhdum et al. [15,
16], thrust force was not found to be reduced because of
ultrasonic assistance at every cutting speed. The maximum
reduction in the thrust force because of ultrasonic assistance
was found to be 9.1 N (although a small difference) at
9.42 m/min cutting speed as compared to CD. For the rest of
the cutting speeds, the thrust force was found to be similar in
CD and UAD Also, the minimum thrust force was found to be
at 282.6 m/min cutting speed in both CD and UAD.

4.2. X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT)

In order to examine the extent of the damage accurately in
the drilled-holes, the non-destructive technique of X-ray CT
scanning has been used and a methodology has been developed
[23]. Each drilled hole was scanned separately by Nikon
Metrology system XTEK 320. In order to identify the physical
center of the hole, four straight marks were machined around
where the hole was going to be drilled, Figure 6. A 2 mm
diameter, 2-flute, Q-coat tungsten carbide slot drill with flat end
was used to machine the marks. First, the four marks were
machined and then the tool was changed to the drilling tool
before the hole was drilled keeping the work-piece fixed. The
center of the hole was identified by the point of intersection of
the lines joining the midpoints of the machined marks around
the hole through image processing, (Figure 6 (b)).

Thrust force [N]

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 4: Thrust force profile during the drilling of one hole (0.942
m/min, 0.05 mm/rev), average thrust force = 231.8 N

Figure 6: (a) Straight machined marks and the drilled hole, (b)
center identification and the dimensions of hole and marks in mm.

The utilization of this method lies to the quality of the

machined marks around the hole and the identification of the
edges of the slots in the reconstructed data. Hence, several
parameters were tried and finally, at the cutting speed of
113 m/min and feed rates of 250 mm/min cross-feed and 100
mm/min in-depth feed, the marks were machined with two
passes first 0.4 mm deep and then further 0.3 mm making the
final depth of the machined marks to be 0.7 mm.
The data provided by CT scanning was reconstructed to a
3D representation of the hole with back-projection
reconstruction algorithms in CT Pro software, provided by
Nikon Metrology. The reconstructed model was exported from
VG Studio Max 2.2 software in DICOM images. The exported
slides had the thickness of a voxel, 3D reconstructed pixel,

Copyright 2014 by ASME

having a thickness of approximately 14 m. Every DICOM

image was analysed by a MATLAB code that utilizes image
processing tools to provide complete internal information of
each drilled hole.
With the help of the image processing, the exit
delamination and the dimensional metrological results on the
deviation of radius, circularity and distance between actual and
ideal centers (center deviation) were calculated for each layer.
The entrance delamination could not be measured through this
method because the depth of the machined marks was 0.7 mm
and the analysis of the image processing was started once the
center of the hole was determined at the depth of 0.7 mm.

Delamination factor

CD

1.3

1.25

UAD

1.2
1.15
1.1
1.05

1
0

50

100
150
200
Cutting speed (m/min)

250

300

Figure 7: Area delamination factor for all the cutting speeds

4.2.2. Internal Damage

The internal damage was measured by measuring the
maximum radius at each layer of the X-ray CT scanned hole
through image processing in MATLAB. Further, the average
was taken between the drilled depths from 2 mm to 5 mm. This
average value was considered for the analysis for a particular
hole. The average values of the maximum radius for all the
parameters are plotted in Figure 8. It was found that the average
maximum radius (and hence internal damage) was lower in the
case of UAD in comparison to that in CD at all the cutting
speeds except 9.42 m/min. At 9.42 m/min cutting speed, the
internal damage was found to be similar in both the processes
of CD and UAD.
The reduction in the average maximum radius because of
ultrasonic assistance was found to be more at 94.2 m/min
(20 m) than that at 282.6 m/min cutting speed (6 m) even if
no reduction in the thrust force because of ultrasonic assistance
at these cutting speeds was observed. This happened because
the effective normal rake angle at 94.2 m/min in UAD (39)
was more than that obtained at 282.6 m/min in UAD (33),
Figure 2(c) & (d), leading to a localization and reduction in the
damage as mentioned by Arola et al. [22].
Average maximum radius (mm)

4.2.1. Exit delamination

In general, two types of the exit delamination factors have
been considered i.e. the diameter delamination (Dmax/D0) and
the area delamination (Amax/A0) [17, 24]. Where Amax is the
damaged area at the exit and Dmax is the maximum diameter of
the damaged area (Amax) at the exit and D0 and A0 are the
diameter and circular area of the original drilled-hole. As the
diameter delamination implies the whole area to be affected
inside the maximum diameter of the damage whereas the area
delamination signifies the actual affected area due to
delamination as the case of spalling mentioned by Davim at al.
[24], therefore, the area delamination was considered for the
analysis in the present research work.
The damaged area of the exit delamination for each drilled
hole was calculated from X-Ray CT scanning data of the layers
near to the exit of the hole. The maximum area amongst all the
areas of the layers near to the exit was considered as the area
for exit delamination of a particular hole. The area delamination
factors were then calculated by the ratio of the exit delaminated
area and the circular area of the original intended hole for all
the parameters. The respective area delamination factors are
plotted in the Figure 7.
The exit delamination at 0.942 m/min cutting speed was
found to be higher in UAD as compared to that in CD because
the mean thrust force at the exit-laminates was found to be
higher in UAD (222.2 N) as compared to that in CD (217.4 N),
even if the average thrust forces at 0.942 m/min are same in CD
and UAD (difference of only 0.5 N). One possible reason for
this could be the ultrasonic impacts at the exit in UAD as the
cutting speed is very slow. The maximum reduction in the exit
delamination because of ultrasonic assistance was found at
9.42 m/min cutting speed in UAD in comparison to that in CD.
One of the reasons for this reduction in the exit delamination
corresponds to the maximum reduction of thrust force (9.1 N)
at 9.42 m/min because of ultrasonic assistance, Figure 5. The
exit area delamination at 94.2 m/min was found to be lower in
UAD as compared to that in CD even if the average thrust
forces are same at in both. At 282.6 m/min cutting speed, the
exit delamination was found to be higher in UAD in
comparison to that in CD as also shown in their corresponding
average thrust force data in the Figure 5.

1.35

3.12
3.11
3.1
3.09
3.08
CD

3.07

UAD

3.06
3.05
0

50

100
150
200
Cutting speed (m/min)

250

300

Figure 8: Comparison of the average maximum radius in CD and

UAD

Copyright 2014 by ASME

calculated for each layer of a hole. Further, the average of the

center deviations of the layers between the drilled depth of
2 mm and 5 mm was calculated. This average was considered
as the average center deviation of a hole.
The deviation in the centers in UAD was found to be lower
than that in CD at all the cutting speed parameters except 9.42
m/min cutting speed, Figure 10. At 9.42 m/min cutting speed,
the deviation was found to be similar (3 m difference) in both
the drilling processes of conventional drilling and UAD. Figure
10 shows that the highest deviation in the center of the drilled
hole was found at 282.6 m/min cutting speed in CD while the
lowest deviation was found at 282.6 m/min cutting speed in
UAD. A reduction of 82.8% in center deviation was obtained at
282.6 m/min cutting speed.
Average center deviation (mm)

4.2.3. Circularity
The circularity of each hole was calculated from the
difference between the maximum and the minimum radius in a
particular layer including the damage of the layer. The average
of the circularity of all the layers between the drilled depths
from 2 mm to 5 mm was considered as the average circularity
of a hole. The lower is the circularity value, the more circular
the hole is and the less damage has been produced. The
circularity values for the various cutting speeds have been
plotted in the Figure 9. It was found that the average circularity
values were lower in the case of UAD as compared to those in
CD at all the parameters except 9.42 m/min cutting speed. At
9.42 m/min cutting speed the circularity was found to be lower
in CD than that in UAD. Also, at 282.6 m/min, the average
circularity for CD was found to be the highest amongst all the
cutting speeds which also corresponds to the highest average
maximum radius of the internal damage at 282.6 m/min cutting
speed as shown in the Figure 8.

Average circularity (mm)

0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1

0.08
0.07

0.06
0.05

CD

0.04

UAD

0.03
0.02

0.01
0
0

CD

0.05

50

100
150
200
Cutting speed (m/min)

250

300

UAD

0
0

50

100
150
200
Cutting speed (m/min)

250

300

Figure 9: Average circularity in CD and UAD at various cutting

speeds

The lowest circularity was found at 0.942 m/min cutting

speed in UAD. A maximum of 33.8% reduction in circularity
was obtained in UAD at the cutting speed of 282.6 m/min in
comparison to CD. Based on the circularity data, it can be
concluded that the holes drilled by UAD at 0.942 m/min cutting
speed have the lowest internal damage as also shown in the
Figure 8. Also, similar average maximum radius, Figure 8, and
higher circularity in UAD, Figure 9, indicate higher internal
damage in UAD at 9.42 m/min cutting speed as compared to
that in CD.
4.2.4. Center deviation
During the drilling, because of the natural vibrations and
chattering, the drill sometimes deviates from its original center
which is known as deviation of the centers. The ideal center of
the hole was fixed at the point of cross-section of the lines
joining the mid-points of the four machined marks around the
hole as shown in the Figure 6. The actual center of the hole in a
layer was found by the MATLAB itself by identifying a circular
loop. The distance between the ideal and actual centers was

Figure 10: Average center deviation in CD and UAD at various

cutting speeds

It can be concluded from the center deviation data that the

drill was more stable in UAD than that in CD at all the cutting
speeds. Some selective cutting speeds in CD (in this case
9.42 m/min) may have similar center deviation as that in UAD.
A similar metrological study of circularity, cylindricality,
surface roughness and hole oversize was also performed by
Akbari et.al [13] in the drilling of Inconel 738-LC alloy in
UAD. They also found reduced circularity and lower surface
roughness in UAD as compared to those in CD at the holeexits. However, their study was limited to the hole-exits only
unlike the current analysis of throughout the hole.
4.3. Machined surface and SEM analysis
In order to analyze the internal machined surface of a hole,
the material was cut diametrically opposite with a diamond
coated precision saw and the internal cylindrical surface of the
holes was analyzed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM).
The machined surfaces in both the processes of CD and UAD
look similar at all the parameters when observed at a low
magnification of 40 x. The machined surfaces at 0.942 m/min
in CD and UAD are shown in the Figure 11 and Figure 12
respectively. However, at the exit side, fibre pull-out was found
in the conventionally drilled hole, Figure 11. Apart from the
damage in the laminates near exit, the entire machined surface

Copyright 2014 by ASME

display similar damage. Also, when observing at a higher

magnification (60,000 x), plastic deformation of the smeared
matrix was found in CD and UAD at 0.942 m/min cutting
speed.

behavior. This phenomenon is further discussed at the end of

section 4.5 of this paper.

Figure 13: Sharp and brittle cracks in CD at 9.42 m/min

Figure 11: Machined surface in CD (0.942 m/min, 0.05 mm/rev)

Figure 12: Machined surface in UAD (0.942 m/min, 0.05 mm/rev)

At 9.42 m/min cutting speed, regular, sharp cracks were

found all over the smeared matrix in conventionally drilled
hole, Figure 13, while the matrix-softening and edge-rounding
was found at the cracked edges in the matrix of the machined
surface in UAD, Figure 14, at a higher magnification of
100,000x. Also, the crack-ends were found to be round in UAD
which suggest the softening of the smeared matrix, Figure 14.
This kind of softening of the matrix could happen either in the
case of temperature rise or if the property of the matrix would
have been transited from brittle to ductile. Similar transition
from brittle to ductile of CFRP material in UAD was also
reported by Makhdum et al. [7]. They reported larger lengths of
the chips generating in UAD of CFRP material as compared to
that in CD and the reason behind formation of such larger chips
in UAD was asserted as transition from brittle to ductile

Figure 14: Softened Matrix in UAD at 9.42 m/min cutting speed

At 94.2 m/min, Figure 15 and Figure 16, the machined

surface in CD was found to have debris on throughout the
machined surface while in UAD, the surface was machined
smooth showing plastic deformation in the smeared matrix. On
the other hand, at 282.6 m/min, clean machined surface was
found in CD, Figure 17, and a lot of debris was found on the
machined matrix surface in UAD, similar to the one shown in
Figure 15. One possible reason for generating the debris on the
machined surface due to ultrasonic assistance at 282.6 m/min
could be the intermittent cutting mechanism in UAD; however,
there is no evidence to support this argument.

Copyright 2014 by ASME

4.4. Chip morphology

The chips were collected after drilling each hole on a
double-sided carbon tape. Further analysis was performed in
SEM after applying the gold coating. In order to have overall
information of the average chip formation, 3 random samples
were analyzed out of every drilled hole.
The chips obtained in both the processes of CD and UAD
were found to be similar. In general, three types of chipfragments were found in both the processes
Large (1.4 mm) fragments of chip
Small (100 m to 300 m length) fragments of chip
Small broken fibres (10 to 200 m length)
The large fragments of the chips were obtained at
0.942 m/min and 282.6 m/min cutting speeds in CD, Figure 18.

Figure 15: Debris formation on the machined matrix surface in

CD (94.2 m/min, 0.05 mm/rev)

Figure 18: Large fragment of the chip obtained in CD (0.942

m/min, 0.05 mm/rev)
Figure 16: Clean machined matrix surface in UAD (94.2 m/min,
0.05 mm/rev)

The short broken chip-fragments with the length between

100 m to 300 m were the most common fragments types
obtained in all the cutting speeds in both the processes of CD
and UAD, Figure 19. These types of chip fragments were found
in a large in portion at 282.6 m/min cutting speed in CD and
UAD. Because of the fibre-matrix debonding, the broken loose
fibres were also obtained at every cutting speed in both the
processes of CD and UAD as shown in Figure 21.
At every cutting speed, there was a portion of chips having
plastic deformation in the matrix, Figure 22 and 23. These types
of chips were obtained in a large portion at the cutting speeds of
94.2 m/min and 282.6 m/min in both CD and UAD. Though a
small portion of chips having plastic deformation were also
found at the cutting speed of 0.942 m/min in CD and UAD.
Hence, there was a mixture of chips found at every cutting
speed in CD and UAD and in particular, no clear difference was
found in the chips formed in CD and UAD at the current
machining parameters.

Figure 17: Clean machined matrix in CD (282.6 m/min, 0.05

mm/rev)

Copyright 2014 by ASME

Figure 19: Long and short, broken chip-fragments in UAD at

0.942 m/min cutting speed

Figure 22: Plastic deformation in the matrix of the chip in UAD at

0. 942 m/min cutting speed

Figure 20: Long chip-fragments obtained in UAD at 282.6 m/min

cutting speed along with short and regular chip-fragments

Figure 23: Definite chip formation and plastic deformation in the

matrix obtained at 94.2 m/min cutting speed

Makhdum et al. [15] reported generation of larger chips in

UAD in comparison to that in CD whereas in the present
research there was no difference found in the chips. A possible
explanation for this could be the different ultrasonic oscillation
amplitude and different matrix of the CFRP material; however,
the matrix used in their work was not reported.

Figure 21: Loose fibres obtained in the drilling of CFRP in CD as

well as UAD (9.42 m/min, 0.05 mm/rev)

4.5. Cutting temperature measurement

The cutting temperature is still a point of discussion
amongst the researchers. Some researchers have claimed the
cutting temperature to be higher in UAD as compared to CD
[14]. In the present study, the cutting temperature was measured
using the surface mount thermocouple by sticking it between
two CFRP plates as shown in the Figure 24. The other end of
the thermocouple was connected to the thermocouple data
logger connected to a computer. PicoLog software was used for
data acquisition and storage. To avoid damaging the welded
joint of thermocouple, drilling was performed within a distance

Copyright 2014 by ASME

of 1 mm from the welded joint. The dimensions of the CFRP

plates for temperature measurement were 70 mm x 25 mm x
7.4 mm and the rest of the setup was similar to Figure 3.
Drilling

Surface mount
thermocouple

1 mm

Figure 24: Thermocouple

measurement

setup

CFRP Plates

for

cutting

temperature

The cutting temperature variation in CD and UAD is

plotted in Figure 25.The cutting temperature was found to be
11C higher in UAD at 282.6 m/min than that in CD while at
94.2 m/min cutting speed, it was 20C lower in UAD than that
in CD. At the lower cutting speeds of 0.942 m/min and 9.42
m/min, the cutting temperature did not show a significant
difference between CD and UAD (2C and 4C respectively).
CD
140

9.42, 126.56

120

Temperature (C)

UAD

9.42, 122.59

100

94.2, 90.39

282.6, 81.66

80
0.942, 64.61

60

0.942, 62.54

94.2, 70.25

282.6, 70.76

40

20
0
0

50

100
150
200
Cutting Speed (m/min)

250

300

Figure 25: Cutting temperature measurement at various cutting

speeds in CD and UAD1

The glass transition temperature of bismaleimide matrix

lies between 200C to 288C based upon the composition [25].
The cutting temperature at 9.42 m/min was 126.56C in UAD
(<200C). Hence, the softening of the smeared matrix shown in
the Figure 14 confirms the smeared matrix to be transiting from
brittle to ductile in UAD. This explains the reason behind the
higher internal damage in UAD than that in CD even after a
reduction of 9.1 N in thrust force at 9.42 m/min cutting speed
as in a recent research by Barnes et al. [26], it has been
identified that softer matrix enhances fibre pull-out generating
higher internal damage even if the thrust force is reduced.
However, in their work, they also found higher exit
delamination and lower thrust force in drilling of softer matrix
material contradicting the current case of the maximum
reduction in the exit delamination at 9.42 m/min due to
ultrasonic assistance, Figure 7, as compared to that in CD. A
possible explanation for this could be the higher resistance to
crack propagation in ductile materials as compared to that in
1

For the reproducibility of the cutting temperature results, the repetition

of the cutting temperature measurement experiment is planned soon.

brittle materials in conjunction to lower thrust force causing

reduction in the exit delamination [27].
5. CONCLUSIONS
Based upon the experimental study of ultrasonic assisted
drilling without coolant at various cutting speeds with a
constant feed rate (mm/rev), following conclusions can be
drawn
a) Similar values of thrust force are obtained in CD and
UAD at all the cutting speeds at constant feed rates.
Though a small reduction in thrust force is obtained (9.1
N in the present case) at some cutting speeds (in the
present case 9.42 m/min).
b) A reduction in the average thrust force causes the
reduction in the exit delamination (as the case of
9.42 m/min cutting speed). However the internal damage
of the hole was not found to be related to the average
thrust force when comparing the CD and UAD. As at 9.42
m/min cutting speed the average thrust force reduced but
not the internal damage. Also, at 94.2 m/min cutting
speed, the average thrust force was similar in CD and
UAD while the internal damage was lower in UAD.
c) Higher effective normal rake angles obtained in UAD,
Figure 2, is one of the factors causing the reduction in the
internal damage during the drilling of CFRP material.
Also, The internal damage increases with increasing the
cutting speed in both CD and UAD (an increase of 46 m
in CD and 44 m in UAD in the present case when
increasing the cutting speeds from 0.942 m/min to 282.6
m/min).
d) The holes are more circular when drilled through UAD in
comparison to CD because of having lower internal
damage as compared to that in CD. A maximum of 33.8%
reduction in circularity was obtained in the present case at
the cutting speed of 282.6 m/min.
e) Less center deviation and hence more stable drilling is
obtained in UAD as compared to CD. A maximum of
82.8% reduction was obtained in the center deviation in
UAD as compared to that in CD at cutting speed of
282.6 m/min.
f) In order to obtain the minimum damage, the cutting speed
would have to be variable in though out the drilling depth.
It will have to be high at the exit (282.6 m/min in the
present case) and low during the drilling of intermediate
layers of CFRP material.
g) The chip fragments generated in CD and UAD are not
different at current machining parameters.
h) The cutting temperature is similar in CD and UAD at
lower cutting speeds (0.942 m/min and 9.42 m/min in the
present case) and it is different in CD and UAD at higher
cutting speeds. Further research is required to develop a
thorough understanding about the deviation of cutting
temperature because of ultrasonic assistance.
6. NOMENCLATURE
= dynamic axial rake angle at point i,

10

Copyright 2014 by ASME

 = axial rake angle in work reference system at point i,

= angular deviation of the resultant cutting velocity vector
because of the feed velocity at point i,
= dynamic axial clearance angle at point i,
= clearance angle in the work reference system at point i
= dynamic reference plane for point i;
= reference plane in the work reference system for the
point i
= cutting velocity of the point i in mm/min;
= feed velocity of the point i in mm/min
S0 = feed velocity of the drill in mm/rev
r = external radius of the drill;
ri = axial radius of the point i
N = rotational frequency of the drill (rpm)
a = ultrasonic oscillation amplitude of the drill
= angular ultrasonic oscillation frequency of the drill
= helix angle of the drill
= inclination angle in the work reference system
7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge BAE Systems
for supplying the CFRP material, SGS Solid carbide tools Ltd.
for supplying the drills and DMG Mori Seiki Ltd. for supplying
the machining center for conducting the experiments in this
work. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Darren Grant, a
WMG technician, for his kind help, support and guidance
during the machining work.

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]
[20]

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