Influence of laser beam process parameters on the bending ability of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy sheets

The present study demonstrates laser bending which is a flexible and (external) tool-free method for bending and shaping of metallic components. The numerical and experimental analysis of the bending behaviors of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy sheets has been done under the constant line energy concept. Numerical simulations using Abaqus examine the transient temperature fields, thermal stress, strain, and deformation characteristics. To validate the numerical calculations and observe the effects of process parameters such as laser powers and scanning speeds on the bending capability, the experimental analysis has been conducted and compared with the numerical simulations. In addition, the influence of laser irradiation on the surface morphology of the laser-scanned specimens has been observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The findings show that higher line energy causes significant enhancement in bending deformation. The maximum numerical and experimental bending angles of 0.91° and 0.88° have been observed at the line energy of 15 J/mm, respectively. The average percentage deviation of 5.24% has been observed between the numerical and experimental results at the line energy of 15 J/mm. Moreover, melting, thermal oxidation, and crack propagations have been observed during the SEM analysis at high laser power. The numerical simulation and experimental outcomes are helpful for the selection of optimum process conditions in the laser bending method of Ti-6Al-4V sheets.