Experimental and numerical analysis of corrugated microchannel on aluminum using pulsed laser

Abstract

Microchannel research has emerged significantly in the last decade due to its several applications, viz., heat exchanger, pharmaceutical, etc. Although several micro-machining processes have been developed in the previous few decades, the contemporary utilization of laser micromachining is minimal. In this context, the current research investigates the material characterization and thermal analysis of corrugated aluminum channels using an experimental and numerical approach. Herein, the types of equipment used are pulsed laser, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for experimental analysis. Moreover, the numerical investigation has been conducted using the finite-element method. The current study developed a numerical model for transient thermal analysis utilizing a Gaussian heat source. After that, the output data value is comparable to laser micromachining for experimental inquiry. The results of laser micromachining are shown in terms of heat affected zone (HAZ), depth, and width. The microstructural analysis revealed that the coarser grains are formed near HAZ, whereas finer grains with cracks are located near the laser focal point.