Our research specifically targets the development of technologies to augment ultraprecision machining, which involves several processes, such as process modifications (e.g., vibration-assisted machining [1]), surface modifications (e.g., surface effects [2]), and workpiece modifications (e.g., field-assistance [3]).

We specialize in various types of materials ranging across high strength engineering metals (e.g., maraging steel [4], CoCrMo [5], TiAl alloys [6]), optical-grade ceramics (e.g., calcium fluoride [7, 8], spinel [9–12], sapphire [13–17]), and composites (e.g., CFRP [18]).

We identify the fundamental sciences through multi-scale calculations using first principle calculations, molecular dynamics simulations [19], and finite element method modeling [20] to determine the interaction between atoms, molecules, and the corresponding dislocation activities that govern the microscopic material properties and deformation characteristics.

 

Publications

[1] Y. Bai, et al., Optical surface generation on additively manufactured AlSiMg0.75 alloys with ultrasonic vibration-assisted machining, Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 280 (2020) 116597.

[2] Y.J. Lee and H. Wang, Current understanding of surfaces effects in microcutting, Materials & Design, 192 (2020) 108688.

[3] Y.J. Lee and H. Wang, Sustainability of methods for augmented ultra-precision machining, International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 11 (2024) 585–624.

[4] Y. Bai, et al., Efficient post-processing of additive manufactured maraging steel enhanced by the mechanochemical effect, International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 193 (2023) 104086.

[5] H. Lu, et al., Ultrasonic machining response and improvement mechanism for differentiated bio-CoCrMo alloys manufactured by directed energy deposition, Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 193 (2024) 226–243.

[6] Y. Zhang, et al., Microstructural modulation of TiAl alloys for controlling ultra-precision machinability, International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 174 (2022) 103851.

[7] J. Zhan, Y. Guo, H. Wang, Electro-plastic effect on the indentation of calcium fluoride, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 261 (2024) 108693.

[8] J. Zhan, Y. Guo, H. Wang, Water-enhanced plasticity of calcium fluoride, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 44 (2024) 1795–1805.

[9] Z. Shi, et al., On the effect of grain structure in micro-cutting of polycrystalline aluminate magnesium spinel (PAMS) crystals, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 160 (2019) 372–385.

[10] Z. Shi, et al., Damage mechanisms of polycrystalline aluminate magnesium spinel (PAMS) under different loading conditions of indentation and micro-cutting tests, Ceramics International, 46 (2020) 7235–7252.

[11] Z. Shi, et al., Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study of anisotropic surface damages in micro-cutting polycrystalline aluminate magnesium spinel (PAMS) crystals, Ceramics International, 46 (2020) 20570–20575.

[12] Z. Shi, et al., A review on processing polycrystalline magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4): Sintering techniques, material properties and machinability, Materials & Design, 193 (2020) 108858.

[13] X. Gu, et al., Effect of cutting tool geometries on the ductile-brittle transition of monocrystalline sapphire, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 148 (2018) 565–577.

[14] X. Gu, et al., Fundamental study on damage-free machining of sapphire: Revealing damage mechanisms via combining elastic stress fields and crystallographic structure, Ceramics International, 45 (2019) 20684–20696.

[15] Y. Wang, et al., Effect of ultrasonic elliptical vibration assistance on the surface layer defect of M-plane sapphire in microcutting, Materials & Design, 192 (2020) 108755.

[16] X. Gu, et al., Understanding the damage evolution of sapphire under scratching from AE signals, Ceramics International, 46 (2020) 26085–26099.

[17] Y. Wang, et al., Anisotropic cutting mechanisms on the surface quality in ultra-precision machining of R-plane sapphire, Applied Surface Science, 622 (2023) 156868.

[18] L. Han, J. Zhang, H. Wang, Mediating compositional machining difference of UD-CFRP in orthogonal cutting by epoxy coating, Composites Part B: Engineering, 258 (2023) 110706.

[19] A. Sorkin, et al., Non-invasive improvement of machining by reversible electrochemical doping: A proof of principle with computational modeling on the example of lithiation of TiO2, Materials Chemistry and Physics, 295 (2023) 127183.

[20] H. Wang, et al., On the mechanism of asymmetric ductile–brittle transition in microcutting of (111) CaF2 single crystals, Scripta Materialia, 114 (2016) 21–26.