Product Code: ICA12_1901

Three-Phase 3D Modelling of a Laser Cutting Process Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
Authors:
Noorhafiza Muhammad, Laser Processing Research Centre (LPRC), Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Expert Group, Modelling and Simulation Centre (MASC), School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering,The Univ. of Manchester; Manchester Great Britain
Benedict Rogers, Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Expert Group, Modelling and Simulation Centre (MASC), School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering,The Univ. of Manchester; Manchester Great Britain
Lin Li, Laser Processing Research Centre (LPRC), School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, The Univ. of Manchester; Manchester Great Britain
Presented at ICALEO 2012

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is used to develop a numerical model to simulate the three-phase laser cutting process for medical coronary stent manufacture. The open source code SPHysics is used to model the interaction between laser beam and workpiece. This enables the melt flow behaviour in the non-linear pulsed fibre laser cutting process to be modelled including predicting the heat affected zone and surface quality. The developed model considers the conversion of laser energy into heat within a very thin surface layer, heat conduction into the parent material and the phase transition between solid, liquid and vapour. Promising agreement with experimental data is obtained for predicting the heat affected zone and surface quality. Water is also incorporated in this model to help explain the wet cutting mechanism in laser cutting. It is demonstrated that the meshless characteristics of SPH are able to model the melt splashing and droplets leaving the kerf where it is difficult for conventional modelling.