Mathematical Modelling for Surface Hardness in Vacuum Moulding of Al-Al₂O₃ MMC

Abstract

Al-Al 2 O 3 , metal matrix composites (MMC) have many potential engineering applications. Not much work hitherto has been reported for modeling the surface hardness (SH) in vacuum moulding (VM) of Al-Al 2 O 3 , MMC. In the present study, outcome of Taguchi model has been used for developing a mathematical model for SH; using Buckingham's -theorem for Al-Al 2 O 3 , MMC. Three input parameters namely vacuum pressure; component volume and grit size were selected to give output in form of SH. This study will provide main effects of these variables on SH and will shed light on the hardness mechanism in VM of Al-Al 2 O 3 MMC. The comparison with experimental results will also serve as further validation of model.