Analysis of the waterjet contact/impact on target material

Numerical modeling via finite element analyses (FEA) and experimental measu rements via moire interferometry were applied to the investigation of abras ive waterjet (AWJ) drilling. Polycarbonate and alumina blocks with dimensio ns of 25.4 mm x 19.5 mm x 6.25 mm were subjected to concentrated static loa ds experimentally and numerically. The assumptions of the FEA model are ver ified by comparing the experimental results with the numerical solution. A closed-form solution confirmed the correlation between the two. It was conc luded that the assumption of the FEA model (e.g. mesh, boundary conditions, pressure loading, etc.) represent ed the static conditions. This conclusio n allowed the application of a hybrid numerical/experimental technique to u nderstand the complex interaction of the target material and the AWJ slurry column during drilling. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .