Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Amir H. Roohi ¹
• H. Moslemi Naeini ²
• M. Hoseinpour Gollo ³
• J. Shahbazi Karami ³
• Sh. Imani Shahabad ¹

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, I.R. Iran

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O.Box 14115/143, Tehran, I.R. Iran

³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University (SRTTU), Lavizan, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Laser forming is a thermal forming process which uses laser beam irradiation to produce the desired final forms. In this article, the effect of temperature gradient across  Al 6061-T6 aluminum sheets on bending angle is studied. Input parameters including laser power, scan velocity, beam diameter, and sheet thickness are the effective process parameters which influence the temperature gradient. Thus, a set of 81 numerical simulations based on a full factorial design with varying parameters is carried out and temperature gradient across the sheet thickness is measured. Effects of each input parameter on temperature gradient are determined using analysis of variance. Also, an equation is derived which predicts the temperature gradient for any arbitrary input parameter. The validity of the equation is done by comparing actual and predicted results. Numerical simulation is validated by experimental tests, which show a very close agreement. Finally, the effects of temperature gradient for three different sheet thicknesses on a final bending angle are derived. Results demonstrate that increase in temperature gradient across sheet thickness leads to increase in bending angle.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Laser forming process
• Aluminum alloy sheet
• Temperature gradient
• Bending angle
• Process parameters

20.1001.1.22287922.2016.5.2.2.8

Main Subjects

• Forming
• Heat and Mass Transfer