Loughborough University
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Reason: This item is currently closed access.

Numerical simulation of laser machining of carbon-fibre-reinforced composites

journal contribution
posted on 2014-07-11, 13:43 authored by R. Negarestani, Sundar Marimuthu, M.A. Sheikh, P. Mativenga, Lin Li, Z.L. Li, P.L. Chu, C.C. Khin, H.Y. Zheng, G.C. Lim
The growing use of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites as high-performance lightweight materials in aerospace and automotive industries demands efficient and low-cost machining technologies. The use of laser machining for cutting and drilling composites is attractive owing to its high speed, flexibility, and ease of automation. However, the anisotropic material properties of composites, and issues related to the heat-affected zone (HAZ), charring, and potential delamination during laser processing, are major obstacles in its industrial applications. In order to improve the quality and dimensional accuracy of CFRP laser machining, it is important to understand the mechanism of the transient thermal behaviour and its effect on material removal. Based on the ‘element death’ technique of the finite element (FE) method, a three-dimensional model for simulating the transient temperature field and subsequent material removal has been developed, for the first time, on a heterogeneous fibre—matrix mesh. In addition to the transient temperature field, the model also predicts the dimensions of the HAZ during the laser machining process. Experimental results obtained with same process variables using a 355 nm DPSS Nd:YVO4 laser were used to validate the model. Based on the investigation, the mechanism of material removal in laser composite machining is proposed. The results suggest that the employed FE approach can be used to simulate pulsed laser cutting of fibre-reinforced polymer composites.

History

School

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Published in

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture

Volume

224

Pages

1017-1027 - 1017-1027

Citation

NEGARESTANI, R. ... et al, 2010. Numerical simulation of laser machining of carbon-fibre-reinforced composites. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 224 (7), pp. 1017-1027

Publisher

Sage Publications on behalf of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Publication date

2010

Notes

This article is closed access.

ISSN

0954-4054

Language

  • en