Prediction of Bending Angle of Ti6Al4V Alloy Sheets Formed Using Multiple Laser Irradiation

Abstract

This study proposes a model to predict the bending angle of Ti6Al4V alloy sheets formed using multiple laser irradiation. The model uses the 1D heat transfer equation to calculate the temperature along the sheet thickness direction by considering the conductive losses. Based on this temperature, the thermal strains and stresses induced along the sheet's thickness are estimated. Finally, the bending angle of the sheet is calculated by balancing the strain energies induced by stress, strain, and the bending moment. For the subsequent irradiation, the temperature dependent properties of Ti6Al4V alloy were updated based on the initial temperature of sheet. The experimental and predicted bending angle results were compared for Ti6Al4V alloy sheets of varying thicknesses. The proposed model predicts the bending angle with an average percentage error of 8.86% for 2 mm thick Ti6Al4V alloy sheet.