An experimental investigation on the influence of flexible-pad in flexible-pad laser shock forming

• Main Author: Nadaraja Kartikeyan
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60214
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Flexible Pad Laser Shock Forming (FPLSF) process is a micro forming process that uses laser pulses to plastically deform thin metal foils. Numerous studies have been carried out on the other process parameters of FPLSF. This paper aims to fulfil the research gap on the influence of type and thickness of natural rubber, silicone rubber and polyurethane flexible pads on the deformation characteristics of copper, nickel and stainless steel foils. Parameters such as crater depth, crater diameter, top and bottom crater surface hardness and thinning of foil at crater mid-point were examined. This study concluded that the type of flexible pad had a significant effect on the crater depth and thinning of foil. Increasing the hardness of the flexible pad led to a decrease in the thinning of the foil and a decrease in depth of crater formed. Flexible pad thickness had a significant effect on diameter of crater formed, hardness of top crater surface and hardness of bottom crater surface. Increasing the thickness of the pad resulted in an increase of depth of crater formed, a decrease in the thinning of the foil, decrease in the hardness of top crater surface and hardness of bottom crater surface. Future studies on the impedance of the flexible pads carried out would enhance our understanding the shockwave propagation effects and deformation mechanisms of silicone rubber and natural rubber.