WSEAS Transactions on Information Science and Applications
Print ISSN: 1790-0832, E-ISSN: 2224-3402
Volume 9, 2012
Finite-Element Simulation of Aluminum Temperature Field in Laser Welding
Author:
Abstract: In this paper, the laser beam welding is studied and Aluminium temperature field is gained in this process. The thermal effect of laser beam that specially depends on the laser type and temperature field of it in workpiece, is the main key of analysis and optimization of this process, from which the main goal of this paper has been defined. Utilizing laser as a method to join plastic components is growing in popularity. There are two laser welding mechanisms, keyhole mode and conduction mode. Keyhole welding is widely used because it produces welds with high aspect ratios and narrow heat affected zones. However keyhole welding can be unstable, as the keyhole oscillates and closes intermittently. This intermittent closure causes porosity due to gas entrapment. Conduction welding, on the other hand, is more stable since vaporisation is minimal and hence there is no further absorption below the surface of the material. Conduction welds are usually produced using low-power focused laser beams. This results in shallow welds with a low aspect ratio. In this work, high-power CO2 and YAG lasers have been used to produce laser conduction welds on 2mm and 3mm gauge AA5083 respectively by means of defocused beams. Full penetration butt-welds of and 3mm gauge AA508 using this process have been produced. It has been observed that in this regime the penetration depth increases initially up to a maximum and then decreases with increasing spot size.