The Laser Cutting Process

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2 – THERMAL ANALYSIS OF LASER CUTTING PROCESS

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Absorption of Laser Beam Intensity

2.3 Temperature and Stress Fields in Relation to Key-Hole Formation

2.4 Jet Impingement and Flow Field in the Key-Hole

CHAPTER 3 - ANALYTICAL METHODS IN LASER CUTTING

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Pulse Heating Analysis of Solid Surfaces in Relation to Initiation of Laser Cutting

3.3 Laser Solid Phase Heating and Convection Cooling at the Surface Resembling Assisting Gas Effect

3.4 Thermal Stress Field Generated Due to Convection Boundary at the Surface

3.5 Two-Dimensional Heating

3.6 Transient Evaporation

3.7 Three-Dimensional Heating and Stationary Source at Surface

3.8 Laser Cutting Process and Striation Formation

3.9 Lump Parameter Analysis for Kerf Width Formulation

3.10 Analytical Assessment of Assisting Gas

3.10.1 Laminar Boundary Layer Consideration

3.10.1.1 Frozen Boundary Layer Approximations

3.10.1.2 Boundary Layer Heat Transfer

3.10.1.3 Heat Transfer to the Liquid Metal

3.10.2 Turbulence Boundary Layer Consideration

1. Boundary Layer Consideration
2. Heat Transfer To The Liquid Phase
3. Method of Solution

3.10.2.4 Findings of Turbulent Boundary Treatment

3.11 Analysis of Dross Formation during Cutting

3.11.1 Formulation of Liquid Layer Thickness and Velocity

3.11.2 Dross Formation

3.11.3 Findings of Dross Ejection

CHAPTER 4 - LASER CUTTING QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND NUMERICAL METHODS FOR MODELLING OF CUTTING

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Striation Pattern Assessments

4.3 Factorial Analysis for Laser Cutting Quality Assessments

4.3.1 Qualitative Analysis

4.3.2 Quantitative Analysis

4.3.3 Evaluation of Cut Quality

4.4 Numerical Investigation of Laser Cutting Process

4.4.1 Heating Analysis

4.4.2 Thermal Stress Analysis

4.4.3 Numerical Solution

4.5 3-Dimensional Heating Considerations for Laser Cutting

4.5.1 Mathematical Formulation of Heating Situation

4.5.2 Numerical Method and Simulation

4.5.3 Case Studies on Impinging Gas Jet Effects on Kerf Sites

4.5.3.1 Effect of Kerf Wedge Angle on Heat Transfer Rates and Skin Friction

4.5.3.2 Influence of Kerf Thickness on Heat Transfer and Skin Friction

4.5.3.3 Influence of Assisting Gas Type on the Nusselt Number and the Skin Friction

4.5.3.4 Effect of Jet Velocity on Heat Transfer Rates

4.6 Entropy Analysis of Laser Cutting Process

CHAPTER 5 – SOME APPLICATIONS OF LASER CUTTING

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Heating and Stress Analysis

5.2.1 Thermal Analysis

5.2.2 Thermal Stress Analysis

5.3 Numerical Simulations

5.4 Laser High Thermal Conductive Materials

5.4.1 Straight Cutting of Bronze

5.4.2 Circular Cutting of Bronze

5.5 Laser Cutting of High Elastic Modules and Materials

5.5.1 Laser Straight Cutting of Alumina Tiles

5.5.2 Laser Circular Cutting of Alumina Tiles

5.5.3 Laser Rectangular Cutting of Alumina Tiles

5.5.4 Laser Cutting of Aluminum Foam

5.5.4.1 Laser Straight Cutting of Aluminum Foam

5.5.4.2 Laser Circular Cutting of Aluminum Foam

5.5.4.3 Laser Triangular Cutting of Aluminum Foam

5.5.5 Laser Cutting of Kevlar

5.5.6 Laser Cutting of a Carbon/Carbon Multi-Lamella Plain-Weave Structure

5.5.7 Wedge Cutting of Mild Steel

CHAPTER 6 - CONCLUDING REMARKS

6.1 Analytical Treatment of Laser Cutting Process

6.2 Numerical Analysis Associated With Laser Cutting

6.3 Laser Cutting of Difficult to Cut Materials

6.4 Laser Cutting of Kevlar

6.5 Laser Cutting of Composites

6.6 Laser Cutting of Wedges in Steel