Numerical investigations into influence of scanning path curvature on deformation behavior during curvilinear laser bending of magnesium sheets.

In laser bending process, metal sheets are deformed by using thermal stresses induced due to controlled laser heating. Straight line heating is used to manu-facture simple shapes while curvilinear irradiation is used to generate 3D complex shapes. Scanning path curvature is an important parameter that controls the deformation profile of a worksheet. This article presents systematic investigations into influence of scanning path curvature on the thermal stresses based deformation behavior, temperature distribution and warping of the magnesium M1A sheets. Initially, a three-dimensional nonlinear ther-momechanical finite element model of curvilinear laser bending process has been developed. Mathematical correlations have been derived to model the curvilinear irradiations. The developed model has been validated by using experimental studies. Then, numerical investigations have been performed on temperature distribution, stress-strain distribution and distortions occur in the laser bent magnesium alloy sheets. Results indicated that sheet bends away from the scanning path. One of the key findings is that low to medium levels of arc height reduce the edge effect during laser bending, while higher values of arc height produce warping at the free edge. It is envisaged that presented results will be useful to manufacture 3D complex shapes and to align complex geometry sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]