Artificial intelligence based modeling and optimization of heat affected zone in Nd: YAG laser cutting of duralumin sheet

Duralumin is an alloy of aluminium which has some unique properties such as high strength to weight ratio, high resistance to corrosion, light in weight, and more demanding alloy in various sectors such as space craft, marine, chemical industries, construction and automobile. These applications require very precise and complex shapes which may not be obtained with conventional machining. Pulsed Nd:YAG laser cutting may be used to fulfill these objectives by using optimum setting of process parameters. The present research paper has experimentally investigated the modeling and optimization of heat affected zone in the pulsed Nd:YAG laser cutting of Duralumin sheet with the aim to minimize heat affected zone. The quality is improved by the proper control of different process parameters such as gas pressure, pulse width, pulse frequency and scanning speed. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been used to solve the many engineering problems successfully through development of Genetic Algorithm (GA), Fuzzy Logic (FL) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) systems. The optimization of heat affected zone has been carried out by using Hybrid Approach of Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) and GA. In this methodology, the second order regression model has been developed by using MRA with the help of experimental data obtained by L27 orthogonal array (OA). Further this equation has been used as objective function in GA based optimization. The significant factors have been found with further discussion of their effect on the heat affected zone.