Laser heating: an electron-kinetic theory approach and induced thermal stresses

Laser heating offers considerable advantages for laser treatment of mechanical parts. The laser heating initiates the thermal stresses and expansion of the substrate. In the present study, laser heating of steel substrate is considered. Three-dimensional electron-kinetic theory approach is introduced when simulating the heating process. A moving laser source is taken into account provided that the laser scans the surface at a constant speed. Thermal stresses due to laser heating are computed and thermal expansion along the laser beam axis is predicted. It is found that the thermal stress increases considerably as the heating progresses. Moreover, the expansion of the free surface reaches a value of the order of a nanometer.