Fig. 1. Experimental set-up of laser forming

Fig. 2. Schematic of laser forming process

Fig. 3. Special points along the scanning line

Fig. 4. Comparison between numerical simulated and experimental results. (a) Temperature of point A; (b) displacement of the free end midpoint

Fig. 5. Temperature changes of each point on the heating path. (a) Temperature variation; (b) temperature gradient

Fig. 6. Temperature profiles of top surface when the laser beam moves. (a) At the entering end; (b) at the middle end; (c) at the exiting end; (d) after cooling

Fig. 7. Variation of peak temperature at each interface along heating path

Fig. 8. Distribution of stress and strain of each special point in Y-direction. (a) Stress distribution; (b) strain distribution

Fig. 9. Distribution of residual stress in thickness direction

Fig. 10. Strain and deformation of laminated plate along the heating path. (a) Strain in X-direction; (b) bending angle and displacement

Fig. 11. Schematic of edge effect of composite plate

Fig. 12. Relation between scanning times and forming accuracy. (a) Distribution of peak temperature; (b) Δα; (c) ζ_t; (d) η_α

Fig. 13. Schematics of new scanning strategies. (a) Scan strategy 1; (b) scan strategy 2; (c) scan strategy 3; (d) scan strategy 4

Fig. 14. Peak temperature on the top surface and bending angle along the heating line at different scanning strategies. (a) Peak temperature; (b) bending angle

Fig. 15. Forming samples at different scan strategies. (a) Before processing; (b) scan strategy 2; (c) scan strategy 3; (b) scan strategy 4