Deformation behaviours of laser curve bending of sheet metals

Sheet metal bending along curved irradiation paths with laser-induced internal forces yields complex shapes without dies. Its deformation behaviours vary from laser linear bending of sheet metals. In this paper, the FEM simulation of the temperature, displacement, stress and strain fields were carried out on the basis of the proposed computational model, and then deformation behaviours were analysed from the point of view of thermomechanics. The simulated results show that 3D deformation only occurs on one side of a scanning path along which the rigid constrain is relative lower, and on this side, the sheet is extended and thinned slightly. On the other side of the scanning path, the sheet only produces slight rigid rotation. This is very different from the laser linear bending, which is characteristic of symmetrical bending deformation on two sides of an irradiation path.