Finite-Element Modeling of Laser Shock Forming Technology

Laser shock forming is an innovative technology in which a laser shock wave induces a flexural deformation of a thin plate. Naturally, the technology of laser shock forming cannot increase the curvature of the plates indefinitely and its possibilities have limits, especially for thick plates. This article investigates the maximum convex flexural curvature of a plate that can be achieved using the technology of laser shock forming by successively increasing its main characteristics: the laser spot overlap factor, the number of repetitive laser pulses, and the intensity of laser power density. The resulting flexural torque and bending curvature are calculated from the average residual stresses obtained by the finite element method. The proposed method for predicting the plate curvature can effectively predict the flexural behavior of the plate. This allows one to plan the process of laser shock forming properly.