Numerical and experimental study on bi-directional deformations of cantilevers by overlapping laser shock micro-adjustment technology

This work demonstrates that the overlapping laser shock micro-adjustment technology can be used to adjust the bending curvature and the tilt angle of a micro-cantilever. To illustrate the transient bi-directional deformation behaviours, the forming process is simulated by using a fully three-dimensional (3D) finite element model, wherein, some numerical results are validated by the experimental data. To characterise the bi-directional deformation precisely, the micro-cantilevers are scanned prior to and after adjustment by using the non-contact 3D measuring system and the obtained point cloud data is compared with the computer-aided design model. The research results show that the time interval, scan direction and the number of impacts have an important effect upon the bi-directional deformation. In addition, the multiple overlapping laser shock micro-adjustment technology may have the potential to be a competitive means to form curved surfaces.