FEA analysis of bending stress and deflection in thin steel sheet with reinforcing ribs created by laser treatment

Abstract

The main objective of the research was to determine the influence of local laser treatment on the process of elastoplastic deflection of the sheets under bending force. FEA modelling results show, that the location of the treated area and the number of laser tracks on a thin-walled sheet surface had a large influence on the stress distribution and sheet deflections during bending. The FEA analysis of equivalent Von-Mises stresses, normal stresses, deflection of steel sheets and applied bending forces confirms that the steel samples with the laser-treated area have greater resistance against bending and reduced deflection under the same bending forces. FEA investigation shows that a greater strengthening effect on thin-walled steel sheets could be achieved through the application of double-sided laser treatment of the sheet surface in comparison with untreated or one-side treated steel sheets.