Mechanisms of the process are examined to better understand the deformation characteristics such as slightly protruded shape at the intrados, wall thickness variation, cross-section ovalization, bending radius, and asymmetry. A finite element model is developed and validated by experimental observations. Factors important to characteristics of deformation are experimentally and numerically investigated. Temperature and stress/strain distributions obtained from the simulation models are also used to better understand additional phenomena accompanying the process, and to help devise ways to improve the process such as reducing asymmetry. The process effects on hardness and microstructure variations are also reported.

1.
Silve
,
S.
,
Steen
,
W. M.
, and
Podschies
,
B.
,
1998
, “
Laser forming tubes: a discussion of principles
,”
Proceedings of ICALEO, Section E
,
1998
, pp.
151
160
.
2.
Frackiewicz
,
H.
,
Trampczynski
,
W.
, and
Przetakiewicz
,
W.
,
1992
, “
Shaping of tubes by laser beam
,”
Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Automotive Technology and Automation
, ISATA 25th, pp.
373
380
.
3.
Kraus
,
J.
,
1997
, “
Basic process in laser bending of extrusion using the upsetting mechanism
,”
Laser Assisted Net shape Engineering 2, Proceedings of the LANE’97
,
Meisenbach Bamberg
,
Germany
, Vol.
2
, pp.
431
438
.
4.
Li
,
W.
and
Yao
,
Y. L.
,
1999
, “
Convex Laser forming with high certainty
,”
Trans. North American Manufacturing Research Conference XXVIII
,
Lexington
,
KY
,
May, 2000
, pp.
33
38
.
5.
Li
,
W.
and
Yao
,
Y. L.
,
1999
, “
Effects of Strain Rate in Laser Forming
,”
Proc. 18th Int. Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics (ICALEO ‘99): Conf. on Laser Materials Processing
,
San Diego
,
Nov., 1999
, Section F, pp.
107
116
.
6.
Lange
,
Κ.
,
Pohlandt
,
Κ.
,
Raghupathi
,
P.S.
, et al,
1985
, “Handbook of metal forming,”
McGraw-Hill Book Company
.
7.
Pan
,
K.
and
Stelson
K. A.
,
1995
, “
On the plastic deformation of a tube during bending
,”
Transactions of the ASME, Journal of Engineering for Industry
, Vol.
117
, pp
494
500
.
8.
Li
,
W.
and
Yao
,
Y. L.
,
1999c
, “
Laser forming with constant line energy
,” The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, accepted.
9.
Kervick
,
R. J.
and
Springborn
,
R. K.
,
1966
, “Cold bending and forming tube and other section,”
ASTME
,
Michigan
.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.