Applied multi-pulsed laser in surface treatment and numerical–experimental analysis

This paper presents a comparison between simulation and experimental results of the melting process of metallic material by a pulsed laser source Nd–YAG. The simulations of temperature and velocity fields of melted material were done by solving the transient heat transfer and fluid-flow equations. Variations of the thermophysical properties were considered. Furthermore, the model included the effects of the surface-tension gradient on the fluid surface and the buoyancy force. The simulation was useful in improving our understanding of the phenomena occurring in the treated material. Using a laser triangulation sensor, an experimental study was also conducted on the surface profile of the melted zones to seek a relationship between the so-called keyhole effect and the laser triangulation measurements. The keyhole effect induced strong surface deformations and often formed cavities, which were undesirable in the surface treatment process. The laser power, energy density, and treatment duration could be optimized to prevent the keyhole effect. The predicted laser melted zone (LMZ) morphology was in good agreement with the corresponding experimental measurements for various irradiation conditions, as long as the keyhole effect did not occur.