# A Novel Finite Element Method Approach in the Modelling of Edge Trimming of CFRP Laminates  
[PERSON]  
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, [PERSON],  
Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3J0, UK; jcuriel-sosoa@ Sheffield.ac.uk  
[PERSON]  
2 Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing University of Sheffield, Advanced Manufacturing  
Park, Wallis Way, Vacliff, Rotherham S60 5 TZ, UK; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] or [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.D.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (K.K)  
[PERSON]  
33M UK PLc, Bracknell RG12 8 HT, UK; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] or [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
2 Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing University of Sheffield, Advanced Manufacturing  
Park, Wallis Way, Vacliff, Rotherham S60 5 TZ, UK; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] or [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.D.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (K.K)  
[PERSON]  
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, [PERSON],  
Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3J0, UK; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
Footnote 1: email: {c.c. Although composites are manufactured in a near-net shape, subsequent machining operations are needed to guarantee the strict dimensional tolerances and surface quality demands in aerospace. Commonly, turning, drilling, and milling are the machining operations used to achieve this purpose. Turning is predominately used to adjust the dimensional tolerances of shafts. Thus, the use of cutting parameters to achieve a good surface quality is essential [7]. In general, the selection of high cutting speeds, non-wear cutting tools, and cutting the plies parallel to the fibre direction are the most significant factors to obtain a good surface quality [8; 9]. Drilling is used to make bolted or riveted assemblies in composite parts. The main defects observed in this operation are the high surface delamination at the entry \"push-out\" and the exit \"peel-up\" plies caused by the high thrust forces experienced during the machining process [10; 11; 12]. Finally, milling is considered as a finishing operation to obtain high-quality surfaces in complex shapes. However, delamination and burrs with uncut fibres are often observed due to the complex interaction between the cutting tool and the laminate [13; 14; 15]. These resultant machining defects could lead to the nucleation of cracks in the surface with a drastic reduction in the fatigue life of the components [16]. Therefore, the study of the optimum machining settings to reduce or mitigate these defects has become essential to enhance the structural integrity of parts loaded in service. [PERSON] et al. [17] studied the effect of cutting tool type and high speed machining parameters on the edge trimming effect of an M21 CFRP laminate. A four flute end mill was found to generate surfaces with the lowest surface roughness. Cutting temperatures which were measured using a thermal camera were found to be in the region of 80\({}^{\circ}\)C to 115\({}^{\circ}\)C, below the glass transition temperature. The machining length was found to have the highest impact on cutting temperatures compared to other parameters. [PERSON] et al. [18] measured acoustic emissions signals from a CFRP edge trimming process to measure the effects of cutting tool and machining parameters on surface roughness, delamination and cutting forces. Artificial neural networks have then been compared against regression model with slightly improved results. The authors found that burr style cutting tools were able to reduce delamination better than the helical shaped tools and that the mean acoustic emissions signal was found to increase with wear of the cutting tools. Recently, [PERSON] could be consider one of the most relevant researcher in this topic. Initially, this author used new methods to assess the quality of machining using different experimental methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3D optical topography and X-ray tomography [19]. They have used areal surface roughness metrics (\(S_{a}\)) and X-ray tomography to assess surface quality and crater volume (\(C_{\text{p}}\)), respectively.