STUDY INTO A NUMERICAL SOLUTION FOR A PULSED CO₂ LASER HEATING PROCESS

Abstract

The physical description of the process governing the laser machining mechanism is given by the Fourier equation, which describes the way in which the absorbed energy is transmitted throughout the irradiated material. This energy distribution process is characterized both by the thermophysical properties and optical properties of material, which are functions of temperature. Completely analytic solutions to the Fourier equation are possible for the conduction-only case but impossible with the evaporation-controlled process. In the present study, a numerical solution is attempted for a pulsed CO₂ laser heating process, including heating, melting, and evaporation. In the analysis, the repetitive laser pulse heating process is considered and thermophysical and optical properties are considered as temperature dependent.