Complete heat and fluid flow modeling of keyhole formation and collapse during spot laser welding Available to Purchase

A complete modeling of heat and fluid flow applied to laser welding regimes is proposed. This model bas been developed using only a (Graphical User Interface) GUI of a finite element commercial code and can be easily usable in industrial R&D environments. The model takes into account the three phases of the matter: the vaporized metal, the liquid phase and the solid base. The liquid / vapour interface is tracked using the Level-Set method. To model the energy deposition, a new approach is proposed which consists of treating laser under its wave form by solving Maxwell’s equations. All these physics are coupled and solved simultaneously in Comsol Multyphysics®. The calculated velocity and free surface deformation are analyzed. An example of simulation leading to the formation of porosity is presented. Finally melt pool shapes evolution are compared to experimental macrographs.