A novel grain-based DEM (Discrete Element Method) model is developed and calibrated to simulate RB-SiC (Reaction-Bonded Silicon Carbide) ceramic and associated scratching process by considering the bonded SiC and Si grains and cementitious materials. It is shown that the grain-based DEM model can accurately identify transgranular and intergranular cracks, and ductile and brittle material removal modes. It also shows that by increasing the scratching speed or decreasing the depth of cut, the maximum depth of subsurface damage decreases, because the scratching force is relatively large under the low scratching speed or large depth of cut that facilitates the occurrence of transgranular cracks, large grain spalling from the target surface and the propagation of median cracks into the target subsurface. It has further been found that increasing the cutting-edge radius can enhance the target ductile machinability and reduce the target subsurface damage.
Keywords: RB-SiC ceramics; cluster; grain-based DEM model; scratching process; surface integrity.