Effects of Thermal and Mechanical Loading on PDC Bit Life

Summary Results of numerical analyses to determine the effects of thermal and mechanical loading on the integrity of poly crystalline-diamond-compact (PDC) cutters during deep-hole drilling are presented. Cutter-temperature distributions for several drilling environments are combined with the appropriate mechanical cutting loads to predict stress distributions for the study of cutter wear mechanisms. A discussion of wear mechanisms acting on the cutting structure is presented. Suggestions based on these analyses are presented for the operation of PDC bits to increase bit life in hard, abrasive rock drilling. Microstructural design considerations for the cemented carbide that supports the diamond layer are also discussed.