Theoretical and experimental study on the effect of abrasive concentration on rebar cutting performance

Bin Xu , Jian Qiu , Xinjie Huang , Bo Zhang , Biao Li

Abstract

To improve the efficiency and safety of shield machines when cutting pile foundation rebars, abrasive waterjet (AWJ) assisted cutting technology has been identified as a feasible solution. However, the cutting performance of AWJ is highly influenced by abrasive concentration. This paper presents a systematic theoretical and experimental study to quantify the effect of abrasive concentration on the cutting performance of rebars and to determine the optimal concentration range. Using an established effective kinetic energy model of abrasive particles, and supported by experimental results, it was found that abrasive concentration significantly influences the cutting depth of rebars. As the concentration increases, the cutting performance of AWJ initially rises rapidly and then gradually declines, with optimal performance occurring at concentrations between 8%-10%. The effect on cutting width is relatively minor, remaining stable in the range of 2.5-3 mm. Furthermore, abrasive particle size plays a critical role: smaller particles (80 mesh) produce deeper grooves, whereas larger particles (24 mesh) lead to a 67%- 69% reduction in groove depth. These research findings offer valuable insights and guidance for the design and construction of AWJ assisted shield machines in combined cutting of pile foundation rebars.

Key Words

abrasive concentration; abrasive waterjet; effective kinetic energy; shield machine; submerged conditions

Address

Bin Xu — The State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China; Institute of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China; School of Qilu Transportation, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China
Jian Qiu — Jinan Heavy Industries Group Co., Ltd, Jinan, Shandong, China
Xinjie Huang — 1The State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China; Institute of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China
Bo Zhang — School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China
Biao Li — 1The State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China 2Institute of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China; School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, People's Republic of China

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