Flexural motion in laser evaporative heated cantilever workpiece: Three-dimensional analysis

Laser evaporative heating of metallic surfaces generates a recoil pressure at liquid–vapor interface. Since the magnitude of recoil pressure is considerably high, despite the small evaporative area, the pressure force generated normal to the workpiece surface is considerably high. Consequently, pressure force initiates a flexural motion of the workpiece subjected to a laser evaporative heating. In the present study, flexural motion of a steel plate, with a cantilever arrangement, due to laser evaporative heating is considered. Stress field in the workpiece is also taken into account. Three-dimensional motion of the workpiece is modeled and governing equations of motion and stress field are solved numerically using the finite element method. It is found that surface displacement in the order of 20 m is predicted and the maximum equivalent stress in the order of 700 kPa is obtained. Additional copper element in the workpiece alters the temporal variation of stress levels.