Taguchi based fuzzy logic model for optimisation and prediction of surface roughness during AWJM of DRCUFP composites

From last two decades, plant fiber reinforced polymer/polyester composites have been effectively used in structural and automotive applications. Researchers and manufacturers are looking forward for an effective utilization of these composites. However, despite the outstanding properties in terms of load bearing capacity and environmental sustainability of plant fibers the uptake of these composites are limited due to its poor machinability characteristics. Hence in this paper, Taguchi based fuzzy logic model for the optimization and prediction of process output variable such as surface roughness during Abrasive Water Jet Machining (AWJM) of new class of plant fiber reinforced polyester composites i.e., Discontinuously Reinforced Caryota Urens Fiber Polyester (DRCUFP) composites has been explored. Initially machining experiments has been carried out using L27 orthogonal array obtained from Taguchi Design of Experiments (TDOE). Finally, Taguchi based fuzzy logic model has been developed for optimisation and prediction of surface roughness. From the extensive experimentation using TDOE it was observed that the optimum cutting conditions for obtaining minimum surface roughness value, water pressure (A): 300 bar, traverse speed (B): 50 mm, stand of distance: 1 mm, abrasive flow rate: 12 g/s, depth of cut (C): 5 mm and Abrasive Size:200 microns. Further from FLM, it is observed that minimum water pressure (A): 100 bar, traverse speed (B): 50 mm, stand of distance: 1 mm, abrasive flow rate: 8 g/s, depth of cut (C): 5 mm and abrasive size:100 microns gave higher surface roughness values (3.47 microns) than that at maximum water pressure (A): 300 bar, traverse speed (B): 150 mm, stand of distance: 4 mm, abrasive flow rate: 12 g/s, depth of cut (C): 15 mm and abrasive size:200 microns the surface roughness values (3.25 microns).