Flexural motion due to laser ablation: Influence of force location on the flexural motion

The flexural motion of a multilayer assembly subjected to laser ablation is studied. The assembly consists of thin layers of Inconel alloy (top and bottom layers) and a steel layer (intermediate layer). The assembly resembles a stainless steel sheet with both surfaces coated. The recoil pressure generated during the ablation process results in a loading pressure force acting normal to the assembly surface. The pressure force causes flexural motion in the assembly. In order to secure a sufficiently large flexural displacement, a cantilever arrangement of the assembly is considered. The recoil pressure and the resulting force are formulated and the flexural displacement as well as the resulting stress fields are computed. The influence of the pressure force location at the assembly surface on the flexural motion is examined. It is found that the time occurrence of maximum flexural displacement is the same for all the load locations and the maximum displacement occurs at the free end of the cantilever assembly. The magnitude of normal stresses and shear stress is less than the yielding limit of the substrate material. Moreover, the maximum shear stress is almost three times the maximum normal stress in the assembly.