Machining Performance of Inconel 718 using WOA in PAC

Machining superalloys through conventional methods is extremely difficult due to their inherent mechanical properties such as improved toughness, lower thermal conductivity, and strength-to-weight ratio. The paper deals with machining studies on Inconel 718, a nickel-based superalloy, through the plasma arc cutting (PAC) process. Response surface methodology -based Box–Behnken Design) approach was applied for developing and executing the PAC experiments. Statistical validation, parameter’s influence on the responses, and mathematical relations between the responses and parameters were investigated through multiparameter analysis of variance. Whale optimization algorithm was applied to perform the multiresponse optimization to identify the prime PAC parameters. The microstructure of cut surfaces was investigated through a scanning electron microscope to distinguish the cutting effects on substrate surface along with the several cutting conditions.