www.iaset.us editor@iaset.us A PARAMETRIC EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN STUDY OF ABRASIVE WATER JET MACHINING M. BHENGRA, R. DAVIS, R. LAKRA, A. DUNGDUNG & A. BAKHLA Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.S.E.T, S.H.I.A.T.S, Allahabad, India ABSTRACT In this research work, Grey Relational Analysis was selected to determine the optimal combination of various input parameters of Abrasive Water Jet. A L9 orthogonal array was employed to study the performance characteristics of cutting operation on Al-6061. With the help of Grey Relational Analysis we were able to obtain optimal combination of process parameters for maximum Material Removal Rate (MRR) and minimum Surface Roughness (R a ). KEYWORDS: Abrasive Water Jet, Grey Relational Analysis, MRR, Orthogonal Array, Surface Roughness INTRODUCTION In Abrasive Water Jet, a narrow stream of water carrying abrasive particles, under controlled conditions, is impinged on work piece. The material is removed from the work piece due to small fracture created by the abrasive particles. Abrasive Jet Machining is used for drilling, deburring, etching, and cleaning of hard and brittle metals, alloys, and non-metallic materials. To achieve optimal machining performance the machining parameters should be chosen properly. Grey Relational analysis is a part of Grey Theory established by Dr. Deng in 1989. Grey relational analyses provide an efficient and valid conclusion to an experiment or model which has incomplete information by establishing a relationship between two discrete sequences. This purpose of this paper is to use Grey relational analysis to obtain optimal combination of machining parameter for maximum material removal rate (MRR) and minimum surface roughness (SR) and to find the individual effect of each machining parameter on material removal rate and surface roughness. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS Material In the present study, Al 6061 was used as work piece material. Al 6061 possesses high toughness and hardness. Al 6061 founds its application in aerospace components, marine fittings etc. Design of Experiment Design of Experiment is a systematic approach to solve engineering problems that applies principles and techniques of data collection stage so as to generate the best combinations of factors by establishing a relationship between factors affecting a process and the output of the process. In this study, three control variable were used namely, pressure, nozzle distance and disk flow rate. In machining parameter design, three level machining parameters were selected, shown in table 2.1. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (IJME) ISSN(P): 2319-2240; ISSN(E): 2319-2259 Vol. 5, Issue 4, Jun - Jul 2016; 1-8 © IASET