Characteristics of molten metal film in reactive jet gas assisted CO2 laser cutting

The flow characteristics of the molten metal layer in reactive jet gas assisted CO2 laser cutting have been analysed in this paper. Its velocity distribution has been investigated, based on the conclusions of the momentum interaction between the jet gas and the molten metal layer. The average ejection velocity has therefore been derived. The average thickness of the molten metal layer has been calculated, based on the conservation of continuity for Eulerian-based control volume. This static analysis can be taken as the time-average references for the dynamic modelling of the geometrical dimensions of the molten metal layer. The conclusions have also provided theoretical basis for calculating the overall exothermic heat release due to the gas-liquid chemical reaction in reactive jet gas assisted CO2 laser cutting.