Numerical modeling of rock cutting with abrasive water jet in order to determine the optimal range of parameters affecting the depth and volume of cutting

In this research, the optimal parameters have been investigated with the aim of increasing the efficiency and improving the quality of rock cutting using abrasive waterjet (AWJ) through the modeling of high-velocity two-phase flow (water and abrasive). In the current research, the rock cutting process by AWJ has been simulated using the finite element method-smoothed particle hydrodynamics in LS-DYNA software. For this purpose, the effect of parameters of jet velocity, dwell time, changes in volumetric concentration, and changes in diameter of abrasive particles on the cutting depth and cutting volume of Siltstone and Shale rock specimens have been investigated. Numerical modeling results show that with increasing velocity, the amount of rock cutting depth and cutting volume increases. As the dwell time increases, the energy used by the AWJ to cut the rock increases, which will lead to an increase in the depth and volume of the cut. By increasing the volumetric concentration of abrasive particles up to 3%, the depth and volume of the cut increased with a gentle slope, and after that no significant improvement was observed. Also, by increasing the diameter of the abrasive particles up to 1.25 mm for Siltstone and 1 mm for Shale, the depth and volume of the cut increases at first, and after that the depth and volume of the cut remains constant or decreases.