A KINETIC-THEORY APPROACH FOR LASER-PULSE HEATING PROCESS

Pulsed lasers are being widely used in industry for their high precisi on and low cost in material processing. In order to understand the las er machining mechanism, a thermal analysis of the process is of utmost importance. In the present study, hear transfer mechanisms relevant t o pulsed laser heating is solved numerically using the Kinetic Theory approach for different types of laser pulses. A comparison between the temperature profiles developed due to different pulses is also carrie d out. In the heat transfer model, conduction and convection due to me lting and evaporation are considered. The laser pulse profiles introdu ced in the analysis are selected as appropriate to laser machining pro cesses. Stainless steel is selected as the hear transfer medium.