A numerical study of the effect of the thickness parameter on machining distortion for aluminum alloy plates

The deformation produced after the machining of a structural component is known as part distortion. This phenomenon is a consequence of the inherent residual stresses that exist in raw materials. In this study, such phenomenon is numerically investigated in simple plate elements by considering their thicknesses and their corresponding contribution to part distortion. A total number of eleven flat plates were analyzed using a numerical part distortion procedure for finite element models that also considered their machining positions. The results of this study show that part distortion has more impact on slender plates because these present higher loads than thicker plates in which the residual stresses self-balance throughout their section. Consequently, the part distortion phenomena in simple structural flat plates are related the plate thickness, their machining position, and geometrical parameters.