Temperature and stress distributions during laser cutting with different materials

• Published in: Thermal science and engineering progress Vol. 54; p. 102838
• Main Authors: Marzouk, S.A., Awjah Almehmadi, Fahad, Aljabr, Ahmad, Alam, Tabish, Malik, Ishfaq
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2024
• Subjects: FE modeling; Heat flux; Laser cutting; Temperature distribution; Titanium; Laser cutting; Titanium; Temperature distribution; FE modeling; Heat flux
• ISSN: 2451-9049
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102838

•Laser cutting is highly precise, utilizing concentrated laser beams for exact cuts and engravings.•The paper examines temperature, strain, and stress on materials like steel and titanium during cutting.•Titanium shows higher temperatures compared to steel and aluminum under the same laser settings.•Choosing the right laser power is crucial for optimal cutting accuracy and material handling efficiency. Laser cutting is an extremely precise and versatile industrial technique that utilizes a focused laser beam to accomplish precise and accurate material cutting or engraving. Because of its efficiency and adaptability, laser cutting has become an essential component of modern production and design. The transient thermal and stress distribution of laser cutting of a sheet is introduced numerically in this study. Temperature, equivalent elastic strain, and equivalent stresses at different workpiece materials (structural steel, titanium alloy, and aluminum alloy) are investigated. Three different laser beams (500 W, 1000 W, and 1500 W) were used in this study. The modeling applies a heat source based on a Gaussian distribution to predict heat flow with an accurate temperature distribution field. The numerical model is validated with experimental data, and the error percentage is consistent and reasonable. The results showed that titanium could attain higher temperatures for the material of the workpiece under the same working conditions as both stainless steel and aluminum alloy. In comparison to stainless steel, the temperature increase ratios for titanium and aluminum are 121 % and 113.5 %, respectively. Aluminum expands rapidly, structural steel endures stresses, and titanium withstands high temperatures effectively. In comparison to 500 W, the temperature rise ratios for laser beams of 1000 W and 1500 W are 174 % and 237 %, respectively. These results highlight how critical it is to select the ideal laser power dependent on the properties of the material, adding to a more sophisticated knowledge for increased accuracy and effectiveness in laser cutting procedures.