• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2005

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) can provide a more effective means for precision of difficult -to-machining materials such as ceramics and titanium alloys. The present study is focused on the surface roughness of abrasive waterjet cut surfaces. This paper investigated theoretical and experimental surface characteristics associated with abrasive waterjet cutting of titanium alloy Gr2. It is shown that the proper variations of several cutting parameters such as waterjet cutting pressure, cutting speed and cutting depth improve the roughness and characteristics on specimen surfaces produced by AWJ cutting. From the experimental results by AWJ cutting of titanium alloy Gr2, the optimal cutting conditions to improve the surface roughness and precision were proposed and discussed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2005

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting is an emerging technology for precision cutting of difficult-to-machining materials with the distinct advantages of no thermal effect, high machinability, high flexibility and small cutting forces. This paper investigated theoretical and experimental cutting characteristics associated with abrasive waterjet cutting of quartz GE214. It is shown that the proper variations of several cutting parameters such as waterjet cutting pressure, cutting speed and cutting depth improve the roughness on workpiece surfaces produced by AWJ cutting. From the experimental results by AWJ cutting of quartz GE214, the optimal cutting conditions to improve the surface roughness and precision were proposed and discussed.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.922-927
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• 2004

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting is an emerging technology for precision cutting of difficult-to-machining materials with the distinct advantages of no thermal effect, high machinability, high flexibility and small cutting forces. This paper investigated theoretical and experimental cutting characteristics associated with abrasive waterjet cutting of quartz GE214. It is shown that the proper variations of several cutting parameters such as waterjet pressure, cutting speed and cutting depth improve the roughness on workpiece surfaces produced by AWJ cutting. From the experimental results by AWJ cutting of quartz GE214, the optimal cutting conditions to improve the surface roughness were proposed and discussed.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.763-778
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• 2019

Abrasive waterjet cutting technology has been used for rock excavation of tunnels and underground structures due to various advantages. In order to cut rocks by using the abrasive waterjet system, abrasive is essential to enhance impact energies for fracturing the target rock. Since garnet abrasives are not produced in Korea, alternative abrasives, instead of garnets, are needed to achieve the economical waterjet cutting. This study is to analyze cutting performance for rocks with sandy particles as alternative abrasive. Cutting tests were carried out on granite specimens at the constant waterjet energy (e.g., water pressure or water flow rate). The five kinds of sands, sampled by construction fields and natural sites, were prepared to perform the experimental tests. When sea sand was used as an alternative abrasive, cutting performance was secured to be 60~70% compared to the commercial garnet abrasive. Thus, it is expected that sand abrasives can be applied on the waterjet cutting process for the economical excavation construction.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.517-528
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• 2012

Inserting a nozzle assembly into a removed cutting space during a continuous cutting operation is necessary in rock excavation using an abrasive waterjet. In this study, a combined two nozzle assembly is used to secure enough removal width. The shape of the cut space is affected by the geometric parameters (standoff distance, nozzle angle, and vertical distance between the nozzle tips) of the combined nozzle assembly. Abrasive waterjet cutting tests are performed with various geometric parameters for granite rock specimens. Optimized geometric parameters for the nozzle inserting process are determined and verified through the experimental tests.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.191-192
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.259-260
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• 2007

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.395-409
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• 2022

To overcome the limitation of conventional rock excavation methods, the excavation with abrasive waterjet has been actively developed. The abrasive waterjet excavation method has the effect of reducing blasting vibration and enhancing the excavation efficiency by forming a continuous free surface on the rock. However, the waterjet cutting performance varies with rock fracturing characteristics. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the cutting performance for various rocks in order to effectively utilize the waterjet excavation. In this study, cutting experiments with the high pressure waterjet system were performed for basalt and granite specimens. Water pressure, standoff distance, and traverse speed were determined as effective parameters for the abrasive waterjet cutting. The cutting depth and width of basalt specimens were analyzed to compare with granite results. The averaged cutting depth of basalt was shown in 41% deeper than granite; in addition, the averaged cutting width of basalt was formed by 18.5% narrower than granite. The results of this study are expected to be useful basic data for applying rock excavation site with low strength and high porosity such as basalt.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.533-551
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• 2015

The rock fracturing during waterjet cutting is very complicated because rock is inhomogeneous and anisotropic, compared with artificial materials (e.g., metal or glass). Thus, it is very important to verify the effects of rock properties on waterjet rock cutting performance. Properties affecting the rock cutting efficiency have been variously described in the literature, depending on the experimental conditions (e.g., water pressure, abrasive feed rate, or standoff distance) and rock-types studied. In this study, a rock-property-related literature review was performed to determine the key properties important for waterjet rock cutting. Porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, and hardness of the rock were determined to be the key properties affecting waterjet rock cutting. The results of this analysis can provide the basic knowledge to determine the cutting efficiency of waterjet rock cutting technology for rock excavation-related construction.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2356-2365
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• 2023

Characterization, dismantling and pre-disposal management of irradiated graphite (i-graphite) have an important role in safe decommissioning of several nuclear facilities which used this material as moderator and reflector. In addition to common radiation protection issues, easily volatizing long-lived radionuclides and stored Wigner energy could be released during imprudent retrieval and processing of i-graphite. With this regard, among all cutting technologies, abrasive waterjet (AWJ) can successfully achieve all of the thermo-mechanical and radiation protection objectives. In this work, factorial experiments were designed and systematically conducted to characterize the AWJ processing parameters and the machining capability. Moreover, the limitation of dust production and secondary waste generation has been addressed since they are important aspects for radiation protection and radioactive waste management. The promising results obtained on non-irradiated nuclear graphite blocks demonstrate the applicability of AWJ as a valid technology for optimizing the retrieval, storage, and disposal of such radioactive waste. These activities would benefit from the points of view of safety, management, and costs.