ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Composite materials are widely used in diverse applications, and extensive research has been performed to better understand the mechanical behavior of such materials and develop design procedures for taking maximum advantage of their properties. New problems arise during the machining of composite materials compared with the machining of metals when traditional methods such as drilling, sawing, and routing are used. Fiber reinforcement in composites is usually very abrasive and causes rapid tool wear and deterioration of the machined surfaces. Delaminations can be introduced into the workpiece, and several types of damage can be observed on the machined surfaces. In addition, the workpiece must be supported to resist forces applied by the tools during machining, which requires expensive fixtures to be built, and machining speeds are usually slow. New nontraditional machining techniques such as laser or waterjet cutting have been applied to the machining of composite materials.
