Interaction of a high-power laser beam with metal sheets

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3284204· OSTI ID:21476138

Boley, C D; Cutter, K P; Fochs, S N; Pax, P H; Rotter, M D; Rubenchik, A M; Yamamoto, R M ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)

Experiments with a high-power laser beam directed onto thin aluminum sheets, with a large spot size, demonstrate that airflow produces a strong enhancement of the interaction. The enhancement is explained in terms of aerodynamic effects. As laser heating softens the material, the airflow-induced pressure difference between front and rear faces causes the metal to bulge into the beam. The resulting shear stresses rupture the material and remove it at temperatures well below the melting point. The material heating is shown to conform to an elementary model. We present an analytic model of elastic bulging. Scaling with respect to spot size, wind speed, and material parameters is determined.

• OSTI ID: 21476138
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 107, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3284204; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AERODYNAMICS
ALUMINIUM
ELASTICITY
HEAT TREATMENTS
LASER-RADIATION HEATING
LASERS
MELTING POINTS
RUPTURES
SCALING LAWS
SHEAR
SHEETS
STRESSES
ELEMENTS
FAILURES
FLUID MECHANICS
HEATING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA HEATING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE