Analyses on laser forming of 0.063” thick titanium sheets

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Laser forming of 0.063” thick titanium sheet has been studied using finite element computer codes. Forming with a single laser scan across the middle of a 12”×12” sheet was analyzed for two different laser spot sizes (0.5 and 1 cm) and two scanning speeds (20 and 40 cm/min). Effects of multiple scans were also studied. The finite element codes provided the distortion and stresses throughout the entire forming process. Results showed that significant distortion occurred after the top surface was heated to a peak temperature above ∼2200 °R. Similar to the cases of 0.125” and 0.25” thick materials studied before, the sheet was formed into a “v” shape symmetric with respect to the scanning path. The angle of the “v” varied as much as a factor of ∼4 along the scanning path. With multiple scanning along the same path but in alternate directions, the variation in angle along the scanning path was drastically reduced. High residual stresses were predicted for forming with either single or multiple scans. Results on the distribution of residual stresses were also included.Laser forming of 0.063” thick titanium sheet has been studied using finite element computer codes. Forming with a single laser scan across the middle of a 12”×12” sheet was analyzed for two different laser spot sizes (0.5 and 1 cm) and two scanning speeds (20 and 40 cm/min). Effects of multiple scans were also studied. The finite element codes provided the distortion and stresses throughout the entire forming process. Results showed that significant distortion occurred after the top surface was heated to a peak temperature above ∼2200 °R. Similar to the cases of 0.125” and 0.25” thick materials studied before, the sheet was formed into a “v” shape symmetric with respect to the scanning path. The angle of the “v” varied as much as a factor of ∼4 along the scanning path. With multiple scanning along the same path but in alternate directions, the variation in angle along the scanning path was drastically reduced. High residual stresses were predicted for forming with either single or multiple scans. Results ...