Numerical simulation of single-pulse laser ablation for dressing a bronze-bond diamond grinding wheel

Abstract

To investigate the interaction between a laser beam and the bronze substrate in pulsed laser dressing of bronze-bonded diamond abrasive grinding wheels, a two-dimensional, transient numerical model of the three-phase (solid–liquid–gas) coupling in single-pulse laser ablation of the bronze was developed. The model accounts for the heat transfer, solidification, melting and vaporisation processes; the latent heat mechanism of the phase changes; and various critical factors such as surface tension, the vaporisation-induced recoil force, the thermal buoyancy force, and Darcy friction. The phase-field method is used to accurately track the development of the liquid/vapour (L/V) interface in the ablation crater. The finite element analysis software COMSOL Multiphysics was used to calculate the internal temperature field of the bronze substrate, the velocity field in the metallic vapour zone, and the evolution of the shape of the ablation crater during single-pulse laser ablation with various average laser power levels. The maximum error between the experimental results and the numerical analysis was less than 5%, which shows that the results are consistent. This model can accurately simulate the dynamic behaviour of the crater L/V interface during single-pulse laser ablation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for further research on laser dressing technology for bronze-bonded diamond grinding wheels.