Process design of laser forming for three-dimensional thin plates

Extensive efforts have been made in analyzing and predicting laser forming processes of sheet metal. Process design, on the other hand, is concerned with determination of laser scanning paths and laser heat condition given a desired shape. This paper presents an approach for process design of laser forming of thin plates with doubly curved shapes. The important feature of this method is that it first calculates the strain field required to form the shape. Scanning paths are decided based on the concept of in-plane strain, bending strain, principal minimal strain and temperature gradient mechanism of laser forming. Heating condition is determined by a lumped method. Effectiveness of the approach is numerically and experimentally validated through two different doubly curved shapes.