Making the cut: end effects and the benefits of slicing
File(s)
Accepted version
OA Location
Author(s)
Goda, Bharath Antarvedi
Labonte, David
Bacca, Mattia
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Cutting mechanics in soft solids have been a subject of study for several decades, an interest fuelled by the multitude of its applications, including material testing, manufacturing, and biomedical technology. Wire cutting of a parallelepiped sample is the simplest model system to analyse the cutting resistance of a soft material. However, even for this simple system, the complex failure mechanisms that underpin cutting are still not completely understood. Several models that connect the critical cutting force to the radius of the wire and the key mechanical properties of the cut material have been proposed. An almost ubiquitous simplifying assumption is a state of plane (and anti-plane) strain in the material. In this paper, we show that this assumption can lead to erroneous conclusions because even such a simple cutting problem is essentially three-dimensional. A planar approximation restricts the analysis to the stress distribution in the midplane of the sample. However, through threedimensional finite element modelling, we reveal that the maximal tensile stress – and thus the likely location of cut initiation – is located in the front face of the sample (end effect). Friction reduces the magnitude of this tensile stress, but this detrimental effect can be counteracted by large “slice-to-push” (shear-to-indentation) ratios. The introduction of the “end effect” helps reconcile a recent controversy around the role of friction in wire cutting, for it implies that slicing can indeed reduce required cutting forces, but only if the slice-push ratio and the friction coefficient are sufficiently large.
Date Issued
2024-11-01
Date Acceptance
2024-08-09
Citation
Extreme Mechanics Letters, 2024, 72
ISSN
2352-4316
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Extreme Mechanics Letters
Volume
72
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Subjects
CHEESE
Cutting
CUTTING RESISTANCE
DEEP PENETRATION
Engineering
Engineering, Mechanical
FRACTURE-MECHANICS
Friction
Materials Science
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mechanics
Puncture
PUNCTURE MECHANICS
Science & Technology
Soft materials
SOFT SOLIDS
Technology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
102221
Date Publish Online
2024-08-13