Numerical modeling of abrasive waterjet to optimize rock cutting parameters

This research was conducted to determine the optimal parameters affecting the quality and efficiency of rock cutting by high-pressure Abrasive Water Jets (AWJs). The process was simulated using the combined Finite Element Method-Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (FEM-SPH) in LS-DYNA software. In order to validate the two-phase state of numerical model, several experimental tests were performed on Sandstone and Marble rock samples. The effect of parameters such as jet flow velocity, dwell time, abrasive volumetric concentration (feed rate), and diameter of abrasive particles on the Cutting Depth (CD) and Cutting Volume (CV) was separately investigated. The results showed that increasing the jet velocity led to an increase in CD and CV. Increasing the dwell time resulted in more energy being spent on the cutting process, leading to an increase in CD and CV. Increasing the volumetric concentration of abrasive particles up to 3% led to a sensible growth in CD and CV, but no significant effect was observed for concentrations more than 3%. Similarly, increasing the diameter of abrasive particles up to 1.25 mm led to an initial intensification in CD and CV, and thereafter any improvement was not observed. Therefore, an abrasive volumetric concentration of 3% and an abrasive particle diameter of 1.25 mm are recommended to improve the cutting quality of the rocks studied in this research, in addition to logical increasing the jet velocity and dwell time.