Inverse Thermal Analysis of 304L Stainless Steel Laser Welds

An inverse thermal analysis of 304L stainless steel laser welds is presented. This analysis employs a methodology that is in terms of analytical basis functions. The results of this analysis provide parametric representations of weld temperature histories that can be adopted as input data to various types of computational procedures, such as those for prediction of solid-state phase transformations. In addition, these temperature histories can be used to construct parametric-function representations for inverse thermal analysis of welds corresponding to other process parameters or welding processes whose process conditions are within similar regimes. Specific aspects of the inverse-analysis methodology employed that relevant to its understanding and further development are examined.