Experimental Study on the Performance and Mechanism of High-Pressure Abrasive Waterjet Cutting Hard Rock

In order to improve the performance of high-pressure abrasive water jet cutting extremely hard rock, research on the cutting effect and mechanism of abrasive water jet was carried out. The research focused on cutting depth, and one-factor tests were devised to cut hard rock using key parameters of high-pressure abrasive water jets. The cutting performance of the process parameters was assessed using both the cutability index and the energy-consumption index. The mechanism of abrasive water jet cutting hard rocks was examined using a stereomicroscope. The governing relationships of key parameters influencing the effectiveness of abrasive waterjet in breaking extremely hard rocks were investigated. The results indicate a linear correlation between the cutting depth of the abrasive water jet and pump pressure. Additionally, there is a power function relationship with traverse speed and target distance, a quadratic function relationship with abrasive flow, an exponential function relationship with nozzle diameter, and a logarithmic function relationship with cutting times. Under high traverse speed conditions, the removal mechanism of the abrasive water jet on hard rock involves brittle fracture and plastic shear, while on extremely hard rock, it encompasses plastic shear and a minimal amount of brittle fracture. These research findings can serve as a valuable reference for choosing construction parameters for abrasive water jet-assisted TBM cutting of hard rock.