An element-free Galerkin method approach for estimating sensitivity of machined surface parameters

The main objective of this study is to implement a parameter sensitivity analysis method to be used in the search of optimal machining conditions with respect to surface quality. Presently, the element-free Galerkin (EFGM) approximating functions are used to evaluate the properties of machined surfaces with cutting parameters when turning AISI 4140 steel using arbitrary sets of experimental values and the EFGM approximation functions, based on the moving least-squares method, in order to obtain the sensitivities through proper local derivations. This method shows the sensitivity of each surface parameter for each input variable. The variables investigated were cutting speed (vc), depth of cut (ap), feed rate (f) and the surface roughness (Ra). The sensitivity results showed that the feed rate has the highest influence on surface roughness when turning AISI 4140 steel followed by cutting speed and depth of cut.