Simulation and experimental study on laser cutting of C/C composite finger seal

The finger seal is an important type of dynamic seal in aeroengines carbon fiber-reinforced carbon matrix (C/C) composites have self-lubrication and elasticity that match the application environment of the finger seal. They can not only reduce fuel consumption by decreasing the weight but also effectively improve the load capacity of the sealing device on the basis of low leakage. In this study, a simulation model for laser cutting of C/C composite finger seal was established based on the finite element method. The effects of processing power and processing speed on cutting quality were investigated through simulation analysis, and key indicators such as surface morphology, elemental content, and kerf taper were examined through experiments. The results show that the cutting quality can be regulated by reasonably selecting processing power and processing speed. A narrow kerf can be obtained at low power, and surface roughness can be reduced at high speed. In addition, the consistency between experimental data and simulation results is good, and the accuracy of the simulation results was verified by comparative experiments.