Study of behaviour of S235‐S460 structural steel elements cut using laser processes

Abstract

AbstractLaser cutting is an appealing solution to promote steel construction for high machining speed and precision. As a thermal process, it alters the material properties in the heat affected zone (HZA) and, consequently, the structural response at high‐cycle fatigue loadings. With these premises and by means of a multidisciplinary research, the work studies the effects on S235‐S460 steel elements. In order to study the thermo‐mechanical effects produced by the laser cutting process, with particular attention to fiber laser, a finite elements (FE) numerical model was developed with ABAQUS. Both numerical model calibration and validation were carried out through experimental results obtained by means of monitored cutting processes and material tests. The agreement observed between numerical and experimental results highlights the importance of the interdisciplinary research in the study of complex non‐linear thermo‐mechanical problems like those involving laser cutting. Main results of this study concern the effects of laser cutting on the residual stress distribution and on the response of steel elements subjected to high‐cycle fatigue loadings.