New horizons for high-power lasers: applications in civil engineering

Sivakumaran Wignarajah

doi:10.1117/12.375172

14 January 2000 New horizons for high-power lasers: applications in civil engineering

Sivakumaran Wignarajah

Proceedings Volume 3887, High-Power Lasers in Civil Engineering and Architecture; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.375172
Event: Advanced High-Power Lasers and Applications, 1999, Osaka, Japan

Abstract

Although material processing with high power lasers has found widespread use in a variety of industries such as the automotive industry, electrical and electronics industries, aerospace industry etc., civil engineering construction is one field that has lagged behind in the use of lasers for material processing. This is in spite of the fact that a large variety of materials including ceramics, metals and plastics are used in very large quantities for civil engineering construction. The main reasons for the delay in the adopting of laser for processing construction material seem to be the high costs involved and the lack of sufficient power for processing heavy and thick materials. However, with the advent of more compact lasers with higher powers, higher efficiencies and lower photon costs, greater interest has been shown in recent years in the possible uses of high power lasers for material processing in the construction industry. The author traces some of the past work carried out both in Japan and abroad on the use of lasers in civil engineering, specially with respect to the processing of inorganic material such as concrete, natural stones, tiles and rocks. Recent developments regarding laser decontamination and laser assisted rock excavation are also introduced.

Citation Download Citation

Sivakumaran Wignarajah "New horizons for high-power lasers: applications in civil engineering", Proc. SPIE 3887, High-Power Lasers in Civil Engineering and Architecture, (14 January 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.375172

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available