Finite element validation of the over-coring deep-hole drilling technique

The main objective of the present study is to validate a simple over-coring deep-hole drilling (oDHD) residual stress measurement technique by utilising finite element simulations of the technique. A number of three dimensional (3D) finite element analyses (FEA) were carried out to explore the influence of material removal and the cutting sequence during the deep-hole drilling (DHD) residual stress measurement process on the initial residual stress field. Two models were considered in the study. First, the residual stress field predicted in a rapid spray water quenched solid cylinder was used as the initial stress field for the DHD FE model. The DHD reconstructed residual stresses were compared with the initial FE predicted stresses. Different cutting sequences and different dimensions were systematically simulated before arriving at an optimum solution for the oDHD technique. The oDHD technique significantly improved the spatial resolution and was applied in a second model consisting of a 40mm thick butt-welded pipe. The DHD reconstructed residual stresses compared very well with the initial FE predicted weld residual stress thereby validating the oDHD technique.