Effects of Clamping on the Laser Forming Process

Abstract

Although considerable effort has gone into characterizing the laser forming process in terms of process parameters and conditions, there has been little emphasis on the effects of the mechanical and thermal constraints introduced by the clamping method utilized for a desired application. This research suggests means for investigating and predicting the resulting geometry of a specimen due to laser operation in close proximity to an array of imposed thermo-mechanical constraints for both the single and multiple scan cases; specifically, the resulting average bending angle as well as bending angle variations throughout the part. This is accomplished by initially only considering these effects on the thermal field. Conclusions are then drawn about the nature of the mechanical effects. These conclusions are validated through numerical simulation as well as physical experimentation. An analytical solution of the thermal problem is also presented for further validation of the temperature field as a constrained edge is approached.