The optimal clamping force option for robotic drilling of stacked aluminum sheets based on shell theory

Abstract

In aircraft assembly, the influence of interlayer burr formation in drilling of stacked metal sheets is an important problem. This article aims to develop a deeply understanding of the relationship between the clamping force and interlayer burr formation. The minimum clamping force, which would just make the stacked sheets entirely contact each other, is considered as the optimal clamping force. Hence, the additional deformation would appear at the contact region when the clamping force keeps rising up. The optimal clamping force is obtained first through theoretical calculation. Then, numerical simulations and experimental verifications are conducted. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis based on shell theory.