Optimization of heat affected zone in laser cutting of Kevlar-29 fiber composite using hybrid response surface based grey wolf optimization (RSGWO) algorithm

Abstract

The large strength-to-weight rate and superior mechanical qualities, Kevlar fiber reinforced polymers (KFRP) are commonly utilized in the aerospace, vehicle, and energy sectors. The fine machining of KFRPs in these sectors was required for specific applications. Because of low matrix cracking, burr development, negligible tool wear, and fiber delamination, laser beam cutting (LBC) is a promising alternative to traditional cutting processes in KFRP cutting. During pulsed laser cutting of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet of the K-29 (Kevlar composite laminate) for the 1.25 mm thickness, the heat affected zone (HAZ) was determined experimentally at various settings of the lamp current, pulse frequency, and cutting speed. A second-order regression model for HAZ was demonstrated by using experimentally obtained data. A novel response surface-based grey wolf optimization (RSGWO) algorithm has also been proposed and used to discover optimal levels of process parameter conditions for minimizing HAZ. The RSGWO technique has proposed ideal values for the specified parameters at low pulse frequency (20 Hz) and lamp current (160 A), as well as greater air pressure (10 kg/cm²) with cutting speed (200 mm/min). At optimal cutting parameter values, a 14.92% improvement in HAZ was observed. Furthermore, parametric effects have been studied, and it has been discovered that compressed air pressure is the valuable parameter for HAZ for laser-cut KFRP composite, while lamp current (I) is the least important.