Research on dynamic deformation behaviors of laser driving metal sheet precision forming

Abstract

Laser shock forming (LSF) is an advanced sheet forming technology. With the aid of forming die, it can realize sheet precise forming, and has extensive application prospects in aeronautic and electronics industries. In the paper, a two-dimensional axial symmetric numerical model of SUS304 stainless steel is established. Finite element method is utilized to explore the dynamic deformation behaviors of the laser-driving sheet impacted by the forming die. The results show that the node velocity of metal sheet increases in an oscillatory manner during initial stage and then it starts to bulge. After collision with die cavity bottom, the central region of metal sheet jumps up reversely, and experiences repeating damped vibration. The metal sheet gradually exhausts the obtained kinetic energy from the shock wave, and the flat sheet is finally shaped into the geometrical shape of die cavity. The sheet forming precision can be improved by way of increasing laser shock pressure. The corresponding experiments are also carried out to verify the predicted results. The applied method and gained results can provide a reference for theoretical research and parameters optimization in LSF.