Finite element simulation of residual stresses in laser heating

The laser heating involves the use of high intensity laser radiation to rapidly heat the surface of metals to forming or hardening metals. During a laser heating event, pressures well above the dynamic yield strength of the material are imparted on the target. This will lead to distortion because both elastic and plastic deformation will be involved. After the laser beam has dispersed, the deformation remains then the compressive stresses convert to tensile. Because the flow stress and thermal expansion of a material are temperature dependent, this finally leads to distortion of the sample with internal stresses within the workpiece. 3 Dimension Finite element analysis techniques have been applied to predict the residual stress in a semi infinite induced from laser heating. The analytical development, including the loading history and the elastic–plastic constitutive model, is discussed. Analysis results are presented. The three-dimensional thermal results of the FEM model presented in this paper compared with the results of an analytical thermal modeling.