Deformation of specimen during laser surface remelting

During laser surface remelting, thermal expansion in heating, and contracti on of material in cooling, and due to microstructure changes in the heated surface layer, the specimen deforms, This induces volume changes during the process of remelting the thin surface layer and causes internal stresses. By measuring the deformation of the specimen during the remelting process a s well as after the laser beam interaction. Le., to the moment when the spe cimen cools down to the ambient temperature, it is possible to follow the p rogress of deformation in the specimen material. Detailed information on th e deformation events in the specimen material during the laser remelting pr ocess of a thin surface layer enables the engineer to optimize the process variables in terms of amount of deformation or magnitude of residual stress es on completion of cooling.