Computer simulation and experimental investigation of sheet metal bending using laser beam scanning

Computer simulation and experimental investigation of the sheet metal bendi ng into a V-shape by the laser beam scanning without an external force exer ted onto it have been performed. A 3-D FEM simulation has been carried out, which includes a non-linear transient indirect coupled thermal-structural analysis accounting for the temperature dependency of the thermal and mecha nical properties of the materials. The bending angle, distribution of stres s-strain, temperature and residual stresses have been obtained from the sim ulations. The sheet metal bending had been performed for different material s, thicknesses, scanning speeds and laser powers. The measurement of real-t ime temperature and bending angle was carried out. The bending angle is aff ected by the mechanical and thermal properties of the sheet metal material, the process parameters, and the output of laser energy. The bending angle is increased with the number of laser beam scanning passes and is the funct ion of the laser power and the laser beam scanning speed. The simulation re sults are in agreement with the experimental results. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.