Thermal stress developed during the laser cutting process: consideration of different materials

Abstract

The laser cutting of metallic substrates results in the development of thermal stresses around the cut edges. Depending on the cutting speed, laser power intensity, and material properties, stress levels reaching and exceeding the yielding limit of the substrate material can result. In the present study, the laser cutting situation is simulated and temperature as well as thermal stress fields are computed for steel, Inconel 625, and Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The cutting speed of the laser is considered to be constant and a constant temperature heat source with a focused spot diameter is assumed along the kerf surface at the cut edge, resembling the laser heat source. The equations for energy and thermal stresses are solved numerically using the finite element method (FEM). It is found that the temperature decays sharply in the vicinity of the cut edges and that the equivalent stress attains high values in this region. Inconel 625 results in the highest thermal stress levels in the vicinity of the cut edges and is then followed by steel and titanium alloy.