Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The formula given, \( \phi = C - \beta/2 + \alpha/2 \), is the general shear angle relation from the minimum energy theory of orthogonal cutting.
The constant \( C \) is not always the same number, its value depends on what assumption we make about how the shear stress on the shear plane behaves.
We need to decide, for each option, whether \( C \) stays a fixed number or becomes material dependent.
Step 2: Merchant's Original (First) Theory:
Merchant first assumed that the shear strength on the shear plane, \( \tau_s \), does not change with the normal stress \( \sigma_n \) acting on that plane, in other words \( \tau_s \) is independent of \( \sigma_n \).
Minimizing the cutting energy under this assumption gives
\[ \phi = \frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{\beta}{2} + \frac{\alpha}{2} \]
so here \( C = \pi/4 = 45^\circ \), a pure number that never changes.
This means statement (A) is true, and statement (C), which claims \( C \) depends on material properties under this same assumption, is false.
Step 3: Merchant's Modified (Second) Theory:
Because the first theory did not match experiments well, Merchant later assumed the shear stress rises linearly with the normal stress, \( \tau_s = \tau_0 + k\sigma_n \), where \( k \) is a slope that is different for every work material.
Minimizing the energy with this assumption gives
\[ \phi = \frac{\cot^{-1}k}{2} - \frac{\beta}{2} + \frac{\alpha}{2} \]
so now \( C = \dfrac{\cot^{-1}k}{2} \), and since \( k \) is a material property, \( C \) itself becomes material dependent.
This makes statement (D) true, and statement (B), which claims \( C \) stays constant here, false.
Final Answer:
\( C \) is a fixed constant only under the independent-of-normal-stress assumption (A), and becomes material dependent only under the linear-dependence assumption (D).
\[ \boxed{\text{A and D are correct}} \]