Effect of an absorbent overlay on the residual stress field induced by laser shock processing on aluminum samples

Laser shock processing (LSP) or laser shock peening is a new technique for strengthening metals. This process induces a compressive residual stress field, which increases fatigue crack initiation life and reduces fatigue crack growth rate. Specimens of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy are used in this investigation. A convergent lens is used to deliver 2.5 J, 8 ns laser pulses by a Q-switch Nd:YAG laser, operating at 10 Hz. The pulses are focused to a diameter of 1.5 mm onto aluminum samples. Density of 2500 pulses/cm² with infrared (1064 nm) radiation was used. The effect of an absorbent overlay on the residual stress field using this LSP setup and this energy level is evaluated. Residual stress distribution as a function of depth is assessed by the hole drilling method. It is observed that the overlay makes the compressive residual stress profile move to the surface. This effect is explained on the basis of the vaporization of the coat layer suppressing thermal effects on the metallic substrate. The effect of coating the specimen surface before LSP treatment may have advantages on improving wear and contact fatigue properties of this aluminum alloy.     

Study on mechanical properties after laser forming

Laser forming is a means of processing materials in a novel manner. The mechanical properties of specimens after laser forming are investigated. By tension tests, the tension properties are analyzed to establish Ramberg–Osgood constitutive equations under different laser processing parameters. Experimental data show that the yield strength and tensile strength are improved after laser forming, while the elongation percentage is reduced. Based on the distribution of residual stresses as well as residual strains after the laser forming process, the fatigue life under different laser processing parameters is studied using low-cycle fatigue tests. The residual compressive plastic strain is the most important reason for improving the fatigue life of low carbon steel after laser forming. The fatigue fracture mechanism is shown through the analysis of macro-fracture and micro-fracture using the scanning electronic microscope.     

Microstructure and properties of plastic deformed martensite induced by laser shock processing

Firstly, 45# steel was quenched by the NEL-2500A rapidly axial flow CO2 laser. The experimental parameters were the laser power of 750 W, the laser beam diameter of 4 mm, the scanning velocity of 7 mm/s.The thickness of coating layer was 0.1 mm and the width was 8 mm. Secondly, the martensite induced by laser quench was shocked by Nd:YAG laser. The parameters of laser shock processing were the wavelength of 1.06 μm, the pulse duration of 23 ns, and the output energy of 16-20 J. The laser was focused on a spot of φ7 mm. K9 optical glass was used as confinement. The sample was coated with black paint 86-1 (the thickness is about 0.025 mm). By testing and analysis of samples which were treated by laser quench and laser quench+shock with transmission electron microscope (TEM), it was discovered that the surface layer of martensite was deformed plastically by laser shock processing. In the secondary hardened zones,there were a lot of slender secondary twin crystal martensites, dislocation tangles, and cellular dislocations.Compared with that of the hardened zones through laser quench only, the residual stress and mechanical properties of the secondary hardened zones were improved and increased through laser compound method.     

激光冲击对E690高强钢激光熔覆修复微观组织的影响

为研究激光冲击对E690高强钢激光熔覆修复层微观组织的影响,选用专用金属粉末对E690高强钢试样预制凹坑进行激光熔覆修复,并使用脉冲激光对激光熔覆层进行冲击强化处理,同时采用扫描电镜、透射电镜和X射线应力分析仪分别对激光冲击前后激光熔覆层的微观组织和表面残余应力进行检测。结果表明:激光熔覆修复后,激光熔覆层组织为等轴晶,熔覆层与E690高强钢基体之间冶金结合良好,其表面残余应力为均匀分布的压应力。经激光冲击后,激光熔覆层截面晶粒得到细化,并观察到大量的形变孪晶,互相平行的孪晶界分割熔覆层粗大晶粒,在激光熔覆层的晶粒细化过程中发挥着重要作用;试样表层位错在{110}滑移面上发生交滑移,在晶界周围形成了位错缠结。经激光冲击后,激光熔覆层冲击区域表面残余压应力数值相较于冲击前提升了1.1倍。     

Numerical research on effect of overlap ratio on thermal-stress behaviors of the high-speed laser cladding coating

High-speed laser cladding technology, a kind of surface technology to improve the wear-resistance and corrosion-resistance of mechanical parts, has the characterizations of fast scan speed, high powder utilization rate, and high cladding efficiency. However, its thermal-stress evolution process is very complex, which has a great influence on the residual stress and deformation. In the paper, the numerical models for the high-speed laser cladding coatings with overlap ratios of 10%,30%, and 50% are developed to investigate the influence rules of overlap ratio on the thermal-stress evolution, as well as the residual stresses and deformations. Results show that the heat accumulation can reheat and preheat the adjacent track coating and substrate, resulting in stress release of the previous track coating and decreased longitudinal stress peak of the next track coating. With the overlap ratio increasing, the heat accumulation and the corresponding maximum residual stress position tend to locate in the center of the cladding coating, where the coating has a high crack susceptibility. For a small overlap ratio of 10%, there are abrupt stress changes from tensile stress to compressive stress at the lap joint, due to insufficient input energy in the position. Increasing the overlap ratio can alleviate the abrupt stress change and reduce the residual deformation but increase the average residual stress and enlarge the hardening depth. This study reveals the mechanism of thermal-stress evolution, and provides a theoretical basis for improving the coating quality.     

基于神经网络的选区激光熔化残余应力预测

当前对选区激光熔化产生的残余应力预测方法主要为数值模拟,但由于设备、环境、粉末等因素差异性较大,且具有较大不确定性,很难建立符合实际情况的数值模拟模型。利用神经网络在预测多变量、复杂线性信息处理方面能力强的特点,建立适用于预测316L不锈钢粉末选区激光熔化残余应力的模型。使用选区激光熔化技术打印相当数量的不同工艺参数的试样,采用超声波检测其内部残余应力作为神经网络的训练样本,并使用这些样本对神经网络模型进行训练,获得具有预测功能的神经网络,将验证样本的工艺参数输入神经网络,计算出预测的残余应力值,与实际检测值进行对比。实验结果表明,预测值与实际测量值偏差较小,验证了所提方法的有效性。采用神经网络预测残余应力的方法,可以快速确定不同选区激光熔化工艺参数对应的残余应力,避免设置残余应力较高的工艺参数,有效缩短制备高质量工件试样的周期,降低成本。     

Thermal evolution of residual stress in IN718 alloy subjected to laser peening

The thermal relaxation behaviors of residual stresses induced by laser peening (LP) in IN718 alloy were investigated using an integrated numerical simulation and experimental approach. LP and heat treatments (HT) were carried out after which the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was employed in measuring the residual stresses. Micro-structures were observed using an optic microscope (OM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Dislocations induced by LP were also observed by TEM and characterized using the XRD technique. The effects of the applied temperature and the exposure time on residual stress and micro-structures were investigated. The results show that the extent of the residual stresses relaxation increased accordingly with the increase in the applied temperature. The relaxation rate was initially high and tended to stabilize for a longer exposure time. Grain size evolution during the process was subsequently discussed. Furthermore, a conceivable mechanism of residual stresses thermal relaxation behavior was obtained.     

Effect of plasma confinement on laser shock microforming of thin metal sheets

Laser shock forming is conceived as a non-thermal laser forming method of thin metal sheets using the shock wave induced by laser irradiation to modify the target curvature. The plastic deformation induced by the shock wave and the direct plasma pressure applied on the material generate a residual stress distribution in the material finally leading to its bending. Using water as a confinement medium for the plasma the pressure can be increased around 10 times and the final deformation has a dramatic increase.The effect can be made clearly apparent in thin specimens (up to 1 mm). In the present study thin (100 μm) stainless steel (AISI 316) strips (1 mm long and 300 μm wide) in single and double pinned configurations have been investigated.A Nd:YAG Laser (1064 nm) with 10 ns of pulse length (FWHM) and an energy of 21 mJ per pulse is focused in the strip (spot diameter of the spot = 500 μm).Experimental and numerical studies of the influence of plasma confinement in the process and number of applied pulses are presented.The study shows that the final bending of the specimens can be controlled on a relative wide range by a stable quasi-proportional relation to the number of applied pulses and, what is considered as of major importance, that plasma confinement increases the generated pressure and thus the bending in the target.Laser shock microforming in confined configuration is considered as a technique allowing the successful processing of components in a medium range of miniaturization.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of laser shock synchronous welding and forming of Copper/Aluminum

A novel laser shock synchronous welding and forming method is introduced, which utilizes laser-induced shock waves to accelerate the flyer plate towards the base plate to achieve the joining of dissimilar metals and forming in a specific shape of mold. The samples were obtained with different laser energies and standoff distances. The surface morphology and roughness of the samples were greatly affected by the laser energy and standoff distances. Fittability was investigated to examine the forming accuracy. The results showed that the samples replicate the mold features well. Straight and wavy interfaces with un-bonded regions in the center were observed through metallographic analysis. Moreover, Energy Disperse Spectroscopy analysis was conducted on the welding interface, and the results indicated that a short-distance elemental diffusion emerged in the welding interface. The nanoindentation hardness of the welding regions was measured to evaluate the welding interface. In addition, the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics method was employed to simulate the welding and forming process. It was shown that different standoff distances significantly affected the size of the welding regions and interface waveform characteristics. The numerical analysis results indicated that the opposite shear stress direction and effective plastic strain above a certain threshold are essential to successfully obtain welding and forming workpiece.     

不锈钢焊接件不等强度激光冲击与应力腐蚀试验研究

针对不锈钢焊接接头应力及组织分布不均匀,容易导致应力腐蚀开裂的问题,采用不等强度激光冲击波对316奥氏体不锈钢焊接接头进行处理。通过应力腐蚀试验、残余应力测试及微观组织分析,研究了激光冲击强化对焊接接头应力腐蚀抗性的影响及其作用机理。试验结果表明:激光冲击强化将焊接件的应力腐蚀断裂时间提高了33.48%。激光冲击波的作用,在焊接接头部位引入了高数值的残余压应力,一方面消除了热影响导致的残余拉应力,同时抵消了拉伸工作载荷的作用,降低局部应力梯度,从而延缓表面钝化膜的破裂;另一方面,激光冲击使焊接接头不同区域之间的微观组织均匀和细化,提高了微裂纹萌生的条件,降低了金属发生阳极溶解的可能性。两种因素的共同作用,使得不锈钢焊接接头的抗应力腐蚀性能显著增强。     

激光冲击强化对激光增材TC4钛合金组织和抗氧化性的影响

近年来,激光增材制造技术(3D打印)成为科学研究及工业应用领域的热点。为了研究激光冲击强化对增材制造TC4钛合金性能的影响,本文采用能量为5 J,波长为1 064 nm,脉宽为10 ns,光斑直径为3 mm的脉冲激光对3D打印TC4钛合金进行激光冲击强化,分析了激光冲击强化前后材料的显微硬度、显微组织、残余应力以及高温氧化性能。结果表明,经过激光冲击强化后,材料的显微硬度比激光冲击强化前提高了8%,影响层深度达到0.4 mm,强化区域的晶粒得到细化,位错增多,并产生形变孪晶;激光冲击强化的残余压应力数值高达472 MPa,材料的高温抗氧化性能也得到改善。     

Experimental investigation on: Laser shock micro-forming process using the mask and flexible pad

A forming process called the mask and flexible pad laser shock forming was proposed to fabricate the micro-features on the copper foil. In this process, the mask and laser beam were used as rigid punches. Shock waves induced by plasma were used as the source of loading and plasticine was used as a flexible pad. This was a micro scale and high strain rate forming process and the traditional forming method with micro-mold was changed. In the experiment, surface morphology of formed parts was represented and it was found that the mask played a significant role in the forming process. In order to understand the forming process in the experiment, process parameters, including laser pulse energy, numbers of laser pulse and grain size, were analyzed. The experimental results showed that different parameters had different effects on formed parts. The surface quality and the thickness distribution of formed parts were investigated. It was found that formed parts could keep good surface quality after laser shocking and the reasons were explored. The thickness distribution was measured and the thickness thinning rate was calculated. There was no local tightening or rupture in the forming area. In this paper, the micro-features could be obtained on metallic foils and the method of mold-free was proved to be feasible.     

放大自发辐射对激光冲击处理7050铝合金的影响

 利用高功率钕玻璃激光器对7050铝合金表面进行了冲击处理,保持泵浦功率不变,用压电传感器和示波器测试了激光冲击产生的压力波形,用X射线应力测量仪测量了激光冲击后铝合金表面的残余应力,并用非接触式光学轮廓仪分析了激光冲击后铝合金的表面形貌,研究了放大自发辐射强度对激光冲击处理7050铝合金冲击压力、残余应力和粗糙度影响的微观机理。研究结果表明:在泵浦功率不变前提下,放大自发辐射强度的增大降低了激光冲击波压力,铝合金表面残余压应力也随之降低,同时铝合金表面粗糙度增大。     

Microstructure and residual stress of laser rapid formed Inconel 718 nickel-base superalloy

The microstructure and residual stress of laser rapid formed (LRFed) nickel-base superalloy Inconel 718 was investigated. The as-deposited microstructure of an LRFed Inconel 718 alloy is composed of columnar dendrites growing epitaxially along the deposition direction, and the columnar dendrites transformed to unevenly distributed equiaxed grains after annealing treatment at high temperature. Residual stress evaluation in microstructure scale by Vickers micro-indentation method indicates that the residual thermal stress is unevenly distributed in the LRFed sample, and it has a significant effect on the recrystallization during solution annealing treatment. The residual stress is introduced by rapid heating and cooling during laser rapid forming. There is an alternative distribution between high residual stress regions and low residual stress regions, within a single deposited layer, resulting in a similar distribution of recrystallized grain size.     

Transient deformation of thin metal sheets during pulsed laser forming

The transient deformation of thin grade 304 stainless steel metal sheets heated by a single pulse of a CO₂ laser beam is simulated in this paper. The laser beam is assumed to be line-shaped and the problem is treated as three-dimensional thermo-elastoplastic. The temperature field, deformation pattern, stress–strain states and the residual stress distribution of the specimens have been calculated numerically and the transient response of the bending angle has been validated by experiments. Good agreement has been obtained between the numerical simulation and the experiments under various operating conditions. The numerical study reveals that a high temperature gradient exists for a positive bending angle and a low one for a negative angle. It transpires that the mechanisms of pulsed laser forming are dependent mainly upon the laser power, the heating time, the clamping arrangement, as well as the geometry, the thermal properties and the original stress states of the specimen.     

激光等离子体去除微纳颗粒的热力学研究

微杂质污染一直是影响精密器件制造质量和使用寿命的关键因素之一.对于微纳米杂质颗粒用传统的清洗方式(超声清洗等)难以去除,而激光等离子体冲击波具有高压特性,可以实现纳米量级杂质颗粒的去除,具有很大的应用潜力.本文主要研究了激光等离子体去除微纳米颗粒过程中的热力学效应:实验研究了激光等离子体在不同脉冲数下对Si基底上Al颗粒去除后的颗粒形貌变化,发现大颗粒会发生破碎而转变成小颗粒,一些颗粒达到熔点后发生相变形成光滑球体,这源于等离子体的热力学效应共同作用的结果.为了研究微粒物态转化过程,基于冲击波传播理论研究,得到冲击波压强与温度特性的演化规律;同时,利用有限元模拟方式研究激光等离子冲击波压强和温度对微粒作用规律,得到了颗粒内随时间变化的应力分布和温度分布,并在此基础上得到等离子体对颗粒的热力学作用机制.     

激光冲击波对5B05铝合金表面应力状态的调整

采用X射线衍射仪分别对光斑中心及其边界点冲击前后3个方向上的残余应力进行测量。根据主应力及其方向角的计算公式,计算出了各测试点冲击前后的主应力值和主应力方向角,分析了其分布特性。结果表明,激光冲击波不仅能调整5B05铝合金表面残余主应力值,还能调整其方向。最大主应力增幅最大点与最小主应力增幅最大点并不在同一点上。5B05铝合金经激光冲击波作用后,表面应力状态得到了改善,应力分布变得分散,应力域变大。     

Characteristic of energy input for laser forming sheet metal

Laser forming is a process in which laser-induced thermal deformation is used to form sheet metal without a hard forming tool or external forces. The energy input of laser beam is the key factor for the temperature and stress distribution of sheet metal. The purpose of this work is to investigate the influence of energy input condition on heat input and deformation angle for two-dimension laser forming. Variations in heat input resulting from material deformation was calculated and discussed in this paper at first. Furthermore, in laser forming under the condition of constant laser energy input, the effects of energy input mode on deformation angle and temperature field were investigated.     

激光冲击诱导弹簧钢丝残余应力状态分析

利用高功率Nd:YAG激光对不同工艺处理的SWOSC-V弹簧钢丝进行单点冲击处理,用X射线应力分析仪测量弹簧内外侧、侧表面的残余应力并计算出残余主应力,建立了激光冲击SWOSC-V弹簧钢丝表面残余应力的产生模型,并利用该模型分析了弹簧钢丝表面残余应力产生的原因。结果表明:弹簧钢丝在经激光冲击处理的表面强化区产生残余压应力,钢丝退火后直接激光冲击处理与经喷丸强化的钢丝激光冲击处理的表面残余应力变化不同,喷丸强化所引起的材料硬化是激光冲击处理弹簧钢丝残余应力变化不同的原因。     

Short pulse laser microforming of thin metal sheets for MEMS manufacturing

Continuous and long-pulse lasers have been used for the forming of metal sheets for macroscopic mechanical applications. However, for the manufacturing of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), the applicability of such type of lasers is limited by the long-relaxation-time of the thermal fields responsible for the forming phenomena. As a consequence of such slow relaxation, the final sheet deformation state is attained only after a certain time, what makes the generated internal residual stress fields more dependent on ambient conditions and might make difficult the subsequent assembly process for MEMS manufacturing from the point of view of residual stresses due to adjustment.The use of ns laser pulses provides a suitable parameter matching for the laser forming of an important range of sheet components used in MEMS that, preserving the short interaction time scale required for the predominantly mechanic (shock) induction of deformation residual stresses, allows for the successful processing of components in a medium range of miniaturization but particularly important according to its frequent use in such systems.In the present paper, a discussion is presented on the specific features of laser interaction in the timescale and intensity range needed for thin sheet microforming with ns-pulse lasers along with relevant modelling and experimental results and a primary delimitation of the parametric space of the considered class of lasers for the referred processes.