Numerous processes take place in materials under the action of concentrated energy flows. The most important ones include heating together with the temperature misdistribution throughout the depth, probable vaporization on the surface layer, melting to a definite depth, and hydrodynamic flotation; generation of thermo-elastic waves; dissolution of heterogeneous matrix particles; and formation of nanolayers. The heat-based model is presented in an enthalpy statement involving changes in the boundary conditions, which makes it possible to consider melting and vaporization on the material surface. As a result, a linear dependence of penetration depth vs. energy density has been derived. The model of thermo-elastic wave generation is based on the system of equations on the uncoupled one-dimensional problem of dynamic thermo-elasticity for a layer with the finite thickness. This problem was solved analytically by the symbolic method. It has been revealed for the first time that the generated stress pulse comprises tension and compression zones, which are caused by increases and decreases in temperature on the boundary. The dissolution of alloying elements is modeled on the example of a titanium-carbon system in the process of electron beam action. The mathematical model is proposed to describe it, and a procedure is suggested to solve the problem of carbon distribution in titanium carbide and liquid titanium-carbide solution in terms of the state diagram and temperature changes caused by phase transitions. Carbon concentration vs. spatial values were calculated for various points of time at diverse initial temperatures of the cell. The dependence of carbon particle dissolution on initial temperature and radius of the particle were derived. A hydrodynamic model based on the evolution of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in shear viscous flows has been proposed to specify the formation of nanostructures in materials subjected to the action of concentrated energy flows. It has been pointed out for the first time that, for certain parameters of the problem, that there are two micro- and nanoscale peaks in the relation of the decrement to the wavelength of the interface disturbance.
Interaction of a Nd:YAG laser, operating at wavelengths of 1064 nm (23.6 J cm−2 fluence) or 532 nm (25.9 J cm−2 fluence), and pulse duration of 40 ps, with a titanium-based medical implant Ti6Al4V alloy was studied. Surface damage thresholds were estimated to be 0.9 J cm−2 and 0.25 J cm−2 at laser wavelengths 1064 nm and 532 nm, respectively. At both laser wavelengths, the energy absorbed was mostly converted into thermal energy, forming craters, albeit about 50 times deeper at 1064 nm than at 532 nm. Periodic surface structures (PSS) were also formed with both laser wavelengths, concentric, and radial at micrometer scale (3 µm to 15 µm period), parallel at nanometer scale (800 nm period with the 1064 nm laser, 400 nm with the 532 nm laser). In the case of the 532 nm laser, the concentric structures enlarge their period with accumulating laser pulse count. These features can help roughening of the implant surface and improve bio-compatibility.