Thermal stress analysis for laser cutting corner with a fluctuant cutting speed in steel plate

The temperature and thermal stress field are important factors for controlling laser cutting quality. In the present study, thermal stress field analysis for laser cutting corner with a fluctuant cutting speed is carried out. Firstly, a three-dimensional (3-D) finite element model is established to simulate the temperature and thermal stress field. Then the factors of influencing the cutting speed fluctuation such as corner angle and cutting speed are studied in laser cutting corner. It is found that the constrained cutting speed at the corner introduces the phenomenon of corner burning and uneven residual stress distribution. The predicted temperature, thermal stress results agree well with the experiment data through the laser cutting corner experiment of 3 mm steel plate.