Frequency domain identification of grinding stiffness and damping

As equivalent stiffness and damping of the grinding process dominate cutting stability, their identification is essential to predict and avoid detrimental chatter occurrence. The identification of these process constants is not easy in large cylindrical grinding machines, e.g. roll grinders, since there are no practical ways to measure cutting force normal component. This paper presents a novel frequency domain approach for identifying these process parameters, exploiting in-process system response, measured via impact testing. This method adopts a sub-structuring approach to couple the wheel-workpiece relative dynamic compliance with a two-dimensional grinding force model that entails both normal and tangential directions. The grinding specific energy and normal force ratio, that determine grinding stiffness and damping, are identified by fitting the closed loop FRF (Frequency Response Function) measured during specific plunge-grinding tests. The fitting quality supports the predictive capability of the model. Eventually, the soundness of the proposed identification procedure is further assessed by comparing the grinding specific energy identified through standard cutting power measurements.