Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process Efficiency

Rock-breaking cutters are critical components in tunneling, mining, and drilling operations, where efficiency, durability, and energy consumption are paramount. Traditional cutter designs and empirical process optimization methods often fail to address the dynamic interaction between heterogeneous r...

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Main Authors: Yuecao Cao, Qiang Zhang, Shucheng Zhang, Ying Tian, Xiangwei Dong, Xiaojun Song, Dongxiang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Computation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3197/13/7/152
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author Yuecao Cao
Qiang Zhang
Shucheng Zhang
Ying Tian
Xiangwei Dong
Xiaojun Song
Dongxiang Wang
author_facet Yuecao Cao
Qiang Zhang
Shucheng Zhang
Ying Tian
Xiangwei Dong
Xiaojun Song
Dongxiang Wang
author_sort Yuecao Cao
collection DOAJ
description Rock-breaking cutters are critical components in tunneling, mining, and drilling operations, where efficiency, durability, and energy consumption are paramount. Traditional cutter designs and empirical process optimization methods often fail to address the dynamic interaction between heterogeneous rock masses and tool structures, leading to premature wear, high specific energy, and suboptimal performance. Topology optimization, as an advanced computational design method, offers transformative potential for lightweight, high-strength cutter structures and adaptive cutting process control. This review systematically examines recent advancements in topology-optimized cutter design and its integration with rock-cutting mechanics. The structural innovations in cutter geometry and materials are analyzed, emphasizing solutions for stress distribution, wear/fatigue resistance, and dynamic load adaptation. The numerical methods for modeling rock–tool interactions are introduced, including discrete element method (DEM) simulations, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) methods, and machine learning (ML)-enhanced predictive models. The cutting process optimization strategies that leverage topology optimization to balance objectives such as energy efficiency, chip formation control, and tool lifespan are evaluated.
format Article
id doaj-art-992176b98cc8465ca67a17078aacb0ab
institution DOAJ
issn 2079-3197
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Computation
spelling doaj-art-992176b98cc8465ca67a17078aacb0ab2025-08-20T03:08:00ZengMDPI AGComputation2079-31972025-06-0113715210.3390/computation13070152Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process EfficiencyYuecao Cao0Qiang Zhang1Shucheng Zhang2Ying Tian3Xiangwei Dong4Xiaojun Song5Dongxiang Wang6College of Mechanical Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 123000, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266580, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266580, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266580, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266580, ChinaXi’an Heavy Equipment Tongchuan Coal Mining Machinery Co., Ltd., Loudi 417099, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266580, ChinaRock-breaking cutters are critical components in tunneling, mining, and drilling operations, where efficiency, durability, and energy consumption are paramount. Traditional cutter designs and empirical process optimization methods often fail to address the dynamic interaction between heterogeneous rock masses and tool structures, leading to premature wear, high specific energy, and suboptimal performance. Topology optimization, as an advanced computational design method, offers transformative potential for lightweight, high-strength cutter structures and adaptive cutting process control. This review systematically examines recent advancements in topology-optimized cutter design and its integration with rock-cutting mechanics. The structural innovations in cutter geometry and materials are analyzed, emphasizing solutions for stress distribution, wear/fatigue resistance, and dynamic load adaptation. The numerical methods for modeling rock–tool interactions are introduced, including discrete element method (DEM) simulations, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) methods, and machine learning (ML)-enhanced predictive models. The cutting process optimization strategies that leverage topology optimization to balance objectives such as energy efficiency, chip formation control, and tool lifespan are evaluated.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3197/13/7/152topology optimizationrock-breaking cutterrock-cutting mechanicsstructural designnumerical simulationenergy efficiency
spellingShingle Yuecao Cao
Qiang Zhang
Shucheng Zhang
Ying Tian
Xiangwei Dong
Xiaojun Song
Dongxiang Wang
Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process Efficiency
Computation
topology optimization
rock-breaking cutter
rock-cutting mechanics
structural design
numerical simulation
energy efficiency
title Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process Efficiency
title_full Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process Efficiency
title_fullStr Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process Efficiency
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process Efficiency
title_short Optimization of Rock-Cutting Tools: Improvements in Structural Design and Process Efficiency
title_sort optimization of rock cutting tools improvements in structural design and process efficiency
topic topology optimization
rock-breaking cutter
rock-cutting mechanics
structural design
numerical simulation
energy efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3197/13/7/152
work_keys_str_mv AT yuecaocao optimizationofrockcuttingtoolsimprovementsinstructuraldesignandprocessefficiency
AT qiangzhang optimizationofrockcuttingtoolsimprovementsinstructuraldesignandprocessefficiency
AT shuchengzhang optimizationofrockcuttingtoolsimprovementsinstructuraldesignandprocessefficiency
AT yingtian optimizationofrockcuttingtoolsimprovementsinstructuraldesignandprocessefficiency
AT xiangweidong optimizationofrockcuttingtoolsimprovementsinstructuraldesignandprocessefficiency
AT xiaojunsong optimizationofrockcuttingtoolsimprovementsinstructuraldesignandprocessefficiency
AT dongxiangwang optimizationofrockcuttingtoolsimprovementsinstructuraldesignandprocessefficiency