Modeling Tools for the Machining of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project, Machining Tools for the Machining of Ceramic Matrix Composites, will build on the Phase I feasibility demonstration of CMC machining simulation technology and will further develop, mature, demonstrate, and prepare for transition modeling tools resulting in cost-effective machining processes for fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). The technology innovations and augmentations of the proposed project will develop and demonstrate physics-based modeling and simulation methodologies to inform, shape and improve high-productivity machining processes of DoD mission-critical components. TWS will improve and validate the fundamental detailed-level modeling that is based on finite element simulation to inform the toolpath-level simulation software. Improving the fundamental understanding of the machining process of CMCs will allow for physics-based models to be used in toolpath simulation and optimization. In this project, TWS will develop process improvement strategies and will demonstrate improvements on candidate components. The benefits of using validated physics-based material-specific libraries for toolpath optimization include reduced costs and cycle time, improved quality of critical components and reduced scrap of high value-added parts.