Numerical Simulation Of The Laser Forming ProcessIn Metallic Plates

Abstract

This paper presents results from an on - going study on the numerical simulation of the laser forming process in metallic plates. To this scope a three-dimensional finite element algorithm is developed, by means of the ANSYS' code: the algorithm is capable of simulating the laser forming process. A transient Thermal - Structural analysis has been carried out for the calculation of the time dependency of temperatures, stresses and strains during the process such that the prediction of the final shape of steel-plates can be achieved. During the transient analysis, the dependency of thermal and mechanical properties of the material on the temperature has been taken into account. The algorithm has been applied for simulating the bending process of a plate. For assessing the accuracy of the numerical forming process simulation a series of experiments have been performed on steel plates, by using different laser parameters. The experiments have been carried out on one-edge-clamped plates irradiated by a CO 2 laser in an one-line pass parallel to the clamp. A device comprising LVD Transducers has been used allowing to monitor the distortion of the plate. Numerical simulation and experimental results fit well.