Study of the buckling mechanism in laser tube forming

• Published in: Optics and laser technology Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 402 - 409
• Main Authors: Hsieh, Hom-Shen, Lin, Jehnming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2005; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical applications; Buckling mechanism; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Forming; molding, extrusion etc; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Industrial applications; Laser tube forming; Materials science; Materials synthesis; materials processing; Optics; Physics; Laser tube forming; Buckling mechanism; Laser forming; Forming processes; Digital simulation; Laser-radiation heating; Laser assisted processing; Theoretical study; Residual stresses; Laser beam applications; Experimental study; Young modulus; Finite element method; Stainless steel-304; Initial conditions; Elastoplastic strain; Buckling; Metal tube; Carbon dioxide lasers
• ISSN: 0030-3992; 1879-2545
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2004.06.004

The buckling mechanism of a thin metal tube during laser forming was investigated numerically and experimentally in this study. Metal tubes made of 304 stainless steel were heated by a CO 2 Gaussian laser beam, which induced the buckling phenomenon on the tube surface due to elastic–plastic deformation. This uncoupled thermal–mechanical problem was solved using a three-dimensional finite element method and was subsequently satisfactorily verified with displacement measurements. The transient bending angle and residual stress of the thin metal tube under specific operation conditions were also studied.