Mathematical modeling of evaporative removal of materials using high energy laser beam Available to Purchase

In processes using high-power density laser beams, viz. laser drilling, laser cutting and penetration welding, evaporative removal of material in an important phenomenon. An understanding of the laser-material interaction and the evaporation phenomenon is important for study and optimisation of such processes. In the present paper, evaporative material removal during such processes is analysed by constructing a one-dimensional mathematical model. The rate of evaporation is modelled using an Arrhenius-type reaction equation. The variation of material absorptivity is also an important issue in laser-material interaction and is modelled as a function of temperature using an approach discussed in the paper. The model is validated with experimental as well as computational data available in literature. Most important aspect of the model is the adoption of certain phenomenological approaches to incorporate various phenomena such as multi-dimensional heat diffusion, absorption by vapour, etc., without affecting the simplicity of the model.