STUDY INTO A NUMERICAL-SOLUTION FOR A PULSED CO2-LASER HEATING PROCESS

The physical description of the process governing the laser machining mechanism is given by the Fourier equation, which describes the way in which the absorbed energy is transmitted throughout the irradiated ma terial. This energy distribution process is characterized both by the thermophysical properties and optical properties of material, which ar e functions of temperature. Completely analytic solutions to the Fouri er equation are possible for the conduction only case but impossible w ith the evaporation-controlled process. In the present study, a numeri cal solution is attempted for a pulsed CO2 laser heating process, incl uding heating, melting, and evaporation. In the analysis, the repetiti ve laser pulse heating process is considered and thermophysical and op tical properties are considered as temperature dependent.