Modelling of laser forming – An review

Laser forming is achieved by plastic deformation induced by thermal stresses resulting from rapid nonlinear thermal cycles. Unlike mechanical forming, the process requires no hard tooling or external forces and thus there is no spring-back effect. A number of mechanisms have been identified to explain the thermo-mechanical behaviour in laser forming, accounting for various part geometries, laser process conditions and many materials. Although these interactions of thermal and mechanical factors are not yet fully understood, with increased knowledge of the laser forming process, the process offers significant potential value to industry such as aerospace, shipbuilding, microelectronics, etc. Modelling of the laser forming process may help to provide a basis for determining the heating pattern required, therefore making application of laser forming feasible and profitable to industry. This review describes a number of recent developments and new techniques in modelling of laser forming, including analytical models, numerical simulations and various empirical models.