Authors:
Hosam ElRakayby, KiTae Kim
Abstract:
Core drilling with diamond impregnated segments is widely used in the construction industry for the
generation of openings in different types of materials such as reinforced concrete. The segments consist
of synthetic (industrial) diamonds bonded in a metal matrix and are manufactured by powder
metallurgical processes. Due to the necessary and desired wear of the tool, they are called selfsharpening tools.
This paper deals with a detailed analysis of the tool wear in core drilling, and single segment tests are
presented. The analysis is based on process force measurements and a microscopy analysis of the
segments. The test methods allow a detailed analysis of the wear progress, and statistical methods are
utilised to assess and characterise the wear behaviour of the used segments. Certain wear processes
like diamond break outs are identified and correlated with the process force signals to develop tool wear
models for the prediction of the tool life.
