Acta Mechanica Slovaca 2011, 15(2):34-40 | DOI: 10.21496/ams.2011.016

Fatigue Behaviour of Laser Machined Aluminium Alloy 2024-T3

Růžička Milan^a*, Doubrava Karel^a, Vargas Miguel^a, Kramberger Janez^b

^a Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technická 4, 166 07 Praha6, Czech Republic

^b Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, Sl-2000 Maribor, Slovenia

The advantages offered by the laser technology to cut materials are very attractive for the manufacturing industry. This is due to its versatility and to the fact that they can be faster and cleaner than conventional machining techniques, leaving edges with a high quality surface finish. Nevertheless, this technology cuts the material either melting it, vaporizing it away or blowing it away by a jet of gas. It causes changes on and around the cut off zone and therefore changes in the mechanical response for the whole part. Geometric microstructure of the cut surface content micronotches, where fatigue cracks can nucleate. Considering this, the study of the influence of the laser optical power (speed of a cutting) on the fatigue behavior of laser machined 2024-T3 Alloy sheet was examined. Specimens of different thickness from 2 to 6 mm have been prepared by CO2 laser cutting machine. The results show that the cutting speed must be optimized for different thickness of a plate. Surface flaws have a determinant influence on the fatigue life behavior.

Keywords: Laser Cutting, Fatigue Life, Aluminum Alloy 2024-T3

Received: March 28, 2011; Accepted: May 24, 2011; Published: October 31, 2011  Show citation