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Laser Cutting of Kevlar and Mild Steel Composite Structure: End Product Quality Assessment

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Abstract

In the present study laser cutting of composite structure, consisting of Kevlar laminate at the top and mild steel sheet at the bottom, is considered. The end product quality is assessed using the thermal cutting standards. To compare the end product quality of composite structure cuts, Kevlar laminate and mild steel sheet are cut using the same cutting parameters. The kerf widths for Kevlar laminate and mild steel sheet cuts are predicted from the analytical formulation based on the lump parameter analysis. It is found that the end product quality of composite structure cuts is lower than that corresponding to Kevlar laminate and mild steel sheet cuts.

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Abbreviations

A :

energy coupling factor, < 1

C p :

specific heat at constant pressure (J/kgK)

d :

kerf depth (m)

f :

fraction of pressure drop in the kerf, < 1

k :

thermal conductivity (W/mK)

l :

length of the cut (m)

L b :

latent heat of evaporation (J/kg)

L m :

latent heat of melting (J/kg)

P g :

assisting gas pressure (Pa)

M w :

molecular mass of assisting gas (g/mol)

P ow :

power input in the workpiece (W)

P ow0 :

power input at the workpiece surface (W)

T m :

melting temperature (K)

T 0 :

ambient temperature (room temperature) (K)

v :

laser beam cutting speed (m/s)

\({{\bar{v}}}\) :

average velocity of dross (m/s)

w :

laser beam waist diameter at workpiece surface (m)

w i :

molten layer outer diameter in the cutting section (m)

w k :

kerf width (m)

w 0 :

beam waist diameter at surface when focus setting is nominal (m)

α:

thermal diffusivity (m2/s)

β:

fraction of evaporation contribution, < 1

δ:

molten material thickness in the cutting section (m)

σ:

the molecular diameter (Å)

ηg :

assisting gas viscosity (Pa.s)

ηu :

super heating factor in the melt front, < 1

ρ:

density of workpiece material (kg/m3)

ρg :

density of assisting gas (kg/m3)

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran Saudi Arabia due to analytical tools for material characterization, and Karmetal due to laser cutting process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. KFUPM, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

    F. Al-Sulaiman, B.S. Yilbas, M. Ahsan & A. Bazoune

  2. Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    C. Karatas

  3. Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    O. Keles, I. Uslan & Y. Usta

Authors
  1. F. Al-Sulaiman
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  2. B.S. Yilbas
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  3. C. Karatas
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  4. O. Keles
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  5. I. Uslan
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  6. Y. Usta
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  7. M. Ahsan
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  8. A. Bazoune
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Correspondence to B.S. Yilbas.

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Al-Sulaiman, F., Yilbas, B., Karatas, C. et al. Laser Cutting of Kevlar and Mild Steel Composite Structure: End Product Quality Assessment. J of Materi Eng and Perform 16, 22–29 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-006-9003-1

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