Numerical simulation of fluid flow and temperature field in keyhole double‐sided arc welding process on stainless steel

Double‐sided arc welding process powered by a single supply is a type of novel high‐production process. In comparison with the conventional single‐sided arc welding, this process has remarkable advantages in enhancing penetration, minimizing distortion and improving welding production. In this paper, a three‐dimensional steady numerical model is developed for the heat transfer and fluid flow in plasma arc (PA)–gas tungsten arc (GTA) double‐sided keyhole welding process. The model considers the surface tension gradient, electromagnetic force and buoyancy force. A CCD camera is used to observe the size and shape of the keyhole and weld pool. The acquired images are analysed through image processing to obtain the surface diameters of the keyhole on the two sides. A double‐V‐shaped keyhole geometry is then proposed and its characteristic parameters are derived from the images and cross‐section of weld bead. In the numerical model, the keyhole cavum within the weld pool is treated as a whole quality, whose temperature is fixed at the boiling point of the workpiece material. The heat exchange between the keyhole and weld pool is treated as an interior boundary of the workpiece. Based on the numerical model, the distributions of the fluid flow and temperature field are calculated. A comparison of cross‐section of the weld bead with the experimental result shows that the numerical model's accuracy is reasonable. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical analysis of weld pool geometry in globular-transfer gas metal arc welding

The weld pool geometry and its dimension in the globular-transfer mode during gas metal arc welding (GMAW) were numerically analyzed by using the thermal conduction model, which considered the influence of the deformation of weld pool surface on heat flow in the quasi-steady state. According to the features of the globular-transfer mode, the additional heat energy from molten metal droplets was treated as a plane or volumetric heat source term to correspond to different welding conditions. The weld pool surface profile was predicted while considering the effect of droplet impingement on the depression of the weld pool. The bead-on-plate GMAW experiments were performed under different welding conditions to validate the model of numerical analysis. It has been found that the predicted results agree well with the measured ones.     

Numerical simulation on interaction between TIG welding arc and weld pool

The interface deformation between welding arc and weld pool is important in dynamic coupling numerical simulation on arc and pool. To reveal the interaction between welding arc and weld pool, unified mathematic model of TIG welding arc and pool was established in this paper. The moving interface was solved by updating the calculation region of arc and weld pool continually. Fluid flow and heat transfer of TIG welding arc and weld pool were analyzed basing on this model. The weld pool shape calculated by dynamic coupling welding arc and pool is more close to the experiment than that of non coupling calculation.     

Numerical simulation of humping phenomenon in high speed gas metal arc welding

It is of great significance to obtain a thorough understanding of the physical mechanisms responsible for humping bead phenomenon in high speed gas metal arc welding (GMAW) in order to raise welding efficiency. Experiments were conducted to observe the weld pool behaviors in high speed GMAW, and it was found that both the severely deformed weld pool surface and strong backward flowing play a dominant role in humping bead formation. In this study, a mathematical model is developed to quantitatively analyze the forming mechanism of humping beads for high speed GMAW through considering both the momentum and heat content distribution of the backward flowing molten metal inside the weld pool. The transient development of temperature profiles in the weld pool with severe deformation demonstrates the humping bead forming process under some welding conditions. The predicted and measured humping bead dimensions are in agreement.     

Numerical simulation of variable polarity vertical-up plasma arc welding process

Three-dimensional transient governing equations were developed based on conservation laws of energy, momentum and mass. These equations described physical phenomena of convection in weld pool and heat transfer in workpiece during variable polarity vertical-up plasma arc welding process. Boundary conditions for the developed governing equations were given. Welding energy input for variable polarity vertical-up plasma arc welding process was quantitatively expressed. Free surface deformation of the keyhole molten pool was coupled into calculation. Effect of wire filling on the geometry of molten pool and weld reinforcement was considered in the simulation. Correlations of temperature and thermophysical properties for aluminum alloy 2219 were quantitatively established. A control volume based finite difference method was used to solve the discrete governing equations. Moreover, dynamic evolutions of geometrical profile, dimension and fluid flow for the molten pool and keyhole were simulated through the developed computational routines, which achieved transient solution of fluid flow field coupling with thermophysical properties, temperature field and weld pool free surface deformation. Besides, the effect of the workpiece thickness on the moments of keyhole formation and stable keyhole establishment was analyzed, and thermal cycles for the main welding stage were calculated. In addition, experiments via variable polarity vertical-up plasma arc welding technique were conducted, and the established models were experimentally verified through weld cross-section profiles.     

Predicting of bead undercut defects in high-speed gas metal arc welding (GMAW)

In the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process, when the welding speed reaches a certain threshold, there will be an onset of weld bead undercut defects which limit the further increase of the welding speed. Establishing a mathematical model for high-speed GMAW to predict the tendency of bead undercuts is of great significance to prevent such defects. Under the action of various forces, the transferred metal from filler wire to the weld pool, and the geometry and dimension of the pool itself decide if the bead undercut occurs or not. The previous model simplified the pool shape too much. In this paper, based on the actual weld pool geometry and dimension calculated from a numerical model, a hydrostatic model for liquid metal surface is used to study the onset of bead undercut defects in the high-speed welding process and the effects of different welding parameters on the bead undercut tendency.     

Predicting of bead undercut defects in high-speed gas metal arc welding (GMAW)

In the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process, when the welding speed reaches a certain threshold, there will be an onset of weld bead undercut defects which limit the further increase of the welding speed. Establishing a mathematical model for high-speedGMAWto predict the tendency of bead undercuts is of great significance to prevent such defects. Under the action of various forces, the transferred metal from filler wire to the weld pool, and the geometry and dimension of the pool itself decide if the bead undercut occurs or not. The previous model simplified the pool shape too much. In this paper, based on the actual weld pool geometry and dimension calculated from a numerical model, a hydrostatic model for liquid metal surface is used to study the onset of bead undercut defects in the high-speed welding process and the effects of different welding parameters on the bead undercut tendency.     

Effect of welding wire and groove angle on mechanical properties of high strength steel welded joints

Mechanical properties of high strength steel welded joints strictly depend on the welding process, the filler material composition and the welding geometry. This study investigates the effects of using cored and solid welding wires and implementing various groove angles on the mechanical performance of weld joints which were fabricated employing the gas metal arc welding process. It was found that weld joints of low alloy, high strength steels using low alloy steel cored welding wires exhibited higher tensile strength than that of low alloy steel solid wire and chromium‐nickel steel bare welding wire when the method of gas metal arc welding is employed. The effect of groove angle on the strength and toughness of V‐groove and double V‐groove butt‐joints was investigated. V‐groove joints, with higher tensile strength than double V‐groove joints in the whole range of groove angles, were superior in toughness for small groove angles, but impact toughness values of both joints were comparable for large angles. The effect of heat input and cooling rate on the weld microstructure and weld strength was also investigated by performing thermal analysis employing the commercial software ANSYS. It was concluded that cooling rate and solidification growth rate determined the microstructure of the weld zone which had great consequences in regard to mechanical properties.     

Modelling of arc welding: The importance of including the arc plasma in the computational domain

We present results of computational simulations of tungsten-inert-gas and metal-inert-gas welding. The arc plasma and the electrodes (including the molten weld pool when necessary) are included self-consistently in the computational domain. It is shown, using three examples, that it would be impossible to accurately estimate the boundary conditions on the weld-pool surface without including the arc plasma in the computational domain. First, we show that the shielding gas composition strongly affects the properties of the arc that influence the weld pool: heat flux density, current density, shear stress and arc pressure at the weld-pool surface. Demixing is found to be important in some cases. Second, the vaporization of the weld-pool metal and the diffusion of the metal vapour into the arc plasma are found to decrease the heat flux density and current density to the weld pool. Finally, we show that the shape of the wire electrode in metal-inert-gas welding has a strong influence on flow velocities in the arc and the pressure and shear stress at the weld-pool surface. In each case, we present evidence that the geometry and depth of the weld pool depend strongly on the properties of the arc.     

Effects of CO2 shielding gas additions and welding speed on GTA weld shape

Gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding with deep penetration for high efficiency has long been of concern in industry. Experimental results showed that the small addition of carbon dioxide to the argon shielding gas produces an increase in the weld metal oxygen content, which is one of the compositional variables that strongly influence the Marangoni convection on the pool surface and ultimately change the weld pool shape. An inward Marangoni convection on the weld pool occurs, and hence a narrow and deep weld pool forms when the weld metal oxygen content is over the critical value of 100 ppm. When lower than this value, the weld shape becomes wide and shallow. A heavy oxide layer forms in the periphery area on the pool surface when the CO₂ concentration in the shielding gas is over 0.6%. This continuous heavy oxide layer becomes a barrier for oxygen absorption into the molten pool, and also changes the convection mode on the pool surface. A higher welding speed decreases the heat input and temperature gradient on the pool surface, which weakens the Marangoni convection on the liquid surface.     

Study on welding process and prosperities of AA5754 Al-alloy welded by double pulsed gas metal arc welding

In this paper, the effect of double pulsed gas metal arc welding (DP-GMAW) on metal droplet transfer, weld pool profile, weld bead geometry and weld joint mechanical properties of Al alloy AA5754 are presented. A high speed camera was utilized to reveal the metal transfer behavior and weld pool profile. A self-developed electrical signal acquire system was adopted to record the current waveform during welding process. The results indicated that the metal transfer, weld pool profile and weld bead geometry in DP-GMAW significantly differ with P-GMAW. The microstructure showed that grain size of the weld bead decreased with increasing of thermal pulse frequency, and the eutectic precipitates Mg₂Si were homogeneously distributed at fusion zone. The mechanical properties of welded joints were improved.     

等离子弧焊接熔池和小孔形成过程数值分析

目的 研究等离子弧焊接穿孔过程中熔池内部的金属流动情况和小孔动态变化过程。方法 通过“传热-熔池流动-小孔”之间的相互耦合关系,建立了等离子弧焊接穿孔过程的数值分析模型,通过VOF方法追踪了小孔界面,采用FLOW-3D软件模拟了等离子弧焊接熔池和小孔的形成过程,定量计算了等离子弧焊接温度场、熔池流场及小孔形状;分析了等离子弧焊接熔池和小孔行为;并通过等离子弧焊接实验数据验证了模拟结果。结果 当焊接时间为0~1.0 s时,小孔深度曲线与熔深曲线几乎相同,小孔底部紧贴熔池底部;在2.8 s以后,小孔深度曲线与熔深曲线有一定距离,小孔深度曲线在一定范围内波动,等离子弧焊接电弧挖掘作用到达极限,电弧压力与其他力达到平衡状态。模拟的焊缝熔深为8.04 mm、熔宽为13.20 mm,实验测得的焊缝熔深为8.00 mm、熔宽为13.42 mm。结论 构建的随小孔动态变化的曲面热源模型和电弧压力模型可以描述等离子弧焊接过程中的电弧热-力分布;模拟出了等离子弧焊接熔池和小孔动态演变过程;模拟得到的等离子弧焊接焊缝形貌与实验测得的焊缝形貌基本吻合。     

TIG焊接熔池表面变形对流场与热场的影响

利用流体力学理论和变分法原理,根据熔池本身重力、电弧压力和表面张力之间的动态平衡,推导出了 TIG 焊接熔池表面变形的计算公式。建立了熔池表面存在变形的流场与热场的数学模型。采用 SIMPLER 方法对不锈钢试件焊接熔池内的流场与热场进行了数值分析。焊接工艺试验表明,该模型计算的熔池成形与实验值吻合良好。     

Numerical analysis of AC tungsten inert gas welding of aluminum plate in consideration of oxide layer cleaning

A unified numerical simulation model of AC TIG welding of the aluminum plate considering energy balance among the electrode, the arc and the base metal and employing an analytical model for calculating cleaning rate of the oxide layer has been developed for investigating heat transport properties and weld pool formation process in AC TIG welding of aluminum plate. As a result of this simulation, it was shown that although the heat flux from the arc onto the base metal increases in EN (Electrode Negative) phase due to the electron condensation, that in EP (Electrode Positive) phase conversely decreases because mainly of cooling caused by the electron emission. Furthermore, the validity of the simulation model was confirmed by comparing to experimental results such as the arc voltage, the area of cleaning zone and the shape of weld pool.     

The mechanism of penetration increase in A-TIG welding

The mechanism of the increasing of A-TIG welding penetration is studied by using the activating flux we developed for stainless steel. The effect of flux on the flow and temperature fields of weld pool is simulated by the PHOENICS software. It shows that without flux, the fluid flow will be outward along the surface of the weld pool and then down, resulting in a flatter weld pool shape. With the flux, the oxygen, which changes the temperature dependence of surface tension grads from a negative value to a positive value, can cause significant changes on the weld penetration. Fluid flow will be inward along the surface of the weld pool toward the center and then down. This fluid flow pattern efficiently transfers heat to the weld root and produces a relatively deep and narrow weld. This change is the main cause of penetration increase. Moreover, arc construction can cause the weld width to become narrower and the penetration to become deeper, but this is not the main cause of penetration increase. The effects of flux on fluid flow of the weld pool surface and arc profiles were observed in conventional TIG welding and in A-TIG welding by using high-speed video camera. The fluid flow behavior was visualized in real-time scale by micro focused X-ray transmission video observation system. The result indicated that stronger inward fluid flow patterns leading to weld beads with narrower width and deeper penetration could be apparently identified in the case of A-TIG welding. The flux could change the direction of fluid flow in welding pool. It has a good agreement with the simulation results.     

粉煤灰复合活性剂在A-TIG焊中增加熔深的机理研究

为实现对工业废弃物粉煤灰的剩余价值利用,尝试以粉煤灰作为主要原料制备焊接复合活性剂,并在AZ91镁合金板上进行A-TIG焊.利用焊缝的电特性实时采集、焊接温度场采集、电弧力测试等手段研究活性剂对电弧影响,通过熔池Bi粒子示踪实验探究活性剂对表面张力温度梯度影响.结果 表明:与常规TIG焊相比,粉煤灰复合活性剂可以使焊缝熔深增深1.4倍,熔宽减小,深宽比是常规TIG焊的1.43倍.粉煤灰复合活性剂中氟化物的解离和电离吸热过程、带电粒子的电子扩散和复合过程可以促进电弧收缩,使焊接电压升高,热输入量提高.而活性剂中的氧化物既可以通过对电弧的机械压缩作用强迫电弧收缩,又可以通过电离产生的氧元素实现对熔池液态金属表面张力温度梯度系数的改变,提高熔池中心热输入.A-TIG焊AZ91镁合金熔深增加是电弧收缩理论和表面张力温度梯度改变理论共同作用的结果.     

基于机器学习的薄板等离子弧搭接焊的熔深预测

在等离子弧搭接焊中,搭接焊接头的焊缝熔深是评价焊接质量的关键指标之一,而焊接过程中的热输入信息和熔池图像信息都与焊缝熔深有密切关系。本文通过建立304L不锈钢薄板等离子弧搭接焊数据采集系统,利用LabVIEW实时检测电信息,采用视觉传感技术实时获取薄板等离子弧搭接焊过程中的熔池图像,并通过图像处理方法获得熔池的几何参数信息,结合焊接工艺参数,选择峰值电流、峰值电压、焊接速度、离子气流量、保护气流量、熔池宽度和熔池后端长度作为输入量,焊缝熔深作为输出量,建立了基于支持向量机回归和BP神经网络的熔深预测模型。实验验证表明,采用径向基函数的支持向量机回归模型可以有效地对焊缝熔深进行预测,并具有很好的泛化能力,可为进一步实现在线优化焊接工艺参数提供依据。     

Numerical Analysis of Two-Way Interaction between Weld-Pool and Arc for GTA Welding Process

［1］H.G.Fan, S.J.Na and Y.W.Shi: J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 1997, 30, 94. ［2］Y.P.Lei and Y.W.Shi: Numerical Heat Transfer B,1994, 26, 455. ［3］R.T.C.Choo, J.Szekely and R.C.Westhoff: Metall. Trans. B, 1992, 23B, 357.     

Mathematical Modeling of Metal Active Gas (MAG) Arc Welding

In the present paper. a numerical model for MAG (metal active gas) arc welding of thin plate has been developed. In MAG arc welding, the electrode wire is melted and supplied into the molten pool intermittently. Accordingly, it is assumed on the modeling that the thermal energy enters the base-plates through two following mechanisms, i.e., direct heating from arc plasma and "indirect" heating from the deposited metal. In the second part of the paper, MAG arc welding process is numerically-analyzed by using the model. and the calculated weld bead dimension and surface profile have been compared with the experimental MAG welds on steel plate. As the result. it is made clear that the model is capable of predicting the bead profile of thin-plate MAG arc welding, including weld bead with undercutting.     

超细晶Q460高强钢焊接接头组织与韧性研究

采用手工焊条电弧焊和熔化极活性气体保护焊对超细晶Q460钢进行了焊接,分析表征了焊接接头的组织结构、显微硬度和冲击韧性的变化规律。研究结果表明,采用E5515焊条焊接,焊缝金属主要为先共析铁素体、多边形铁素体与少量珠光体。采用ER55-G焊丝,熔化极活性气体保护焊,焊缝金属主要由针状铁素体和少量多边形铁素体组成,焊丝中Ti元素的添加有利于获得针状铁素体组织。采用较小的焊接线能量,超细晶Q460钢热影响区粗晶区组织为粒状贝氏体组织。焊缝金属的显微硬度高于热影响区和母材的显微硬度,热影响区未出现软化现象。冲击试验表明,焊缝金属和热影响区均具有较高的冲击韧性,而且热影响区的韧性高于焊缝金属的韧性。