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Electromagnetic stirring is known to promote material flow, reduce porosity, uniform elements distribution, and refine grain in laser beam welding (LBW), which enhances the applicability of LBW in various industries. In this study, a phase-field model of dendrite growth in AA5754 Al alloy electromagnetic stirring laser beam welding was established. The model considered the thermal electromagnetic Lorentz force resulting from the interaction between the electric field generated by the Seebeck effect and the magnetic field, as well as the temperature gradient and solidification rate of the solidification interface obtained from the computational fluid dynamics electromagnetic stirring LBW model. The variation rules of dendrite growth with different magnetic parameters and effects are analyzed. Comprehensively, the magnetic field promotes the solidification rate, thus promoting interfacial instability and a large magnetic flux density leads to a faster interface instability. The solidification rate as well as the temperature gradient affect the growth rate, and the accelerated growth caused by the so lidification rate with a high frequency and a large magnetic flux density effectively inhibits the slow growth caused by the temperature gradient. The thermal electromagnetic Lorentz force is the main factor for the branch increment at low frequencies, while both thermal electromagnetic Lorentz force and temperature gradient in crease the number of branches at high frequencies. The calculated average branch numbers considering various factors in the stable stage under different magnetic parameters were consistent with the results of the scanning electron microscope tests.
Despite the advances in hardware and software techniques, standard numerical methods fail in providing real-time simulations, especially for complex processes such as additive manufacturing applications. A real-time simulation enables process control through the combination of process monitoring and automated feedback, which increases the flexibility and quality of a process. Typically, before producing a whole additive manufacturing structure, a simplified experiment in the form of a beadon-plate experiment is performed to get a first insight into the process and to set parameters suitably. In this work, a reduced order model for the transient thermal problem of the bead-on-plate weld simulation is developed, allowing an efficient model calibration and control of the process. The proposed approach applies the proper generalized decomposition (PGD) method, a popular model order reduction technique, to decrease the computational effort of each model evaluation required multiple times in parameter estimation, control, and optimization. The welding torch is modeled by a moving heat source, which leads to difficulties separating space and time, a key ingredient in PGD simulations. A novel approach for separating space and time is applied and extended to 3D problems allowing the derivation of an efficient separated representation of the temperature.
The results are verified against a standard finite element model showing excellent agreement. The reduced order model is also leveraged in a Bayesian model parameter estimation setup, speeding up calibrations and ultimately leading to an optimized real-time simulation approach for welding experiment using synthetic as well as real measurement data.
A method of solving the thermo-fluid dynamics problem is presented, enabling the prediction of the shape and dimensions of the weld pool during keyhole laser welding of thick plates. It is shown that the rear weld pool boundary can be satisfactorily approximated by a set of superellipses (Lamé curves). The presence of a convex rear weld pool boundary in the mid-plane has been observed experimentally and reproduced numerically. It was shown that in this zone the concentration of liquating impurities increases and the local solidification temperature decreases, contributing to the susceptibility to hot cracking.
Numerical and experimental assessment of liquid metal embrittlement in externally loaded spot welds
(2024)
Zinc-based surface coatings are widely applied with high-strength steels in automotive industry. Some of these base materials show an increased brittle cracking risk during loading. It is necessary to examine electrogalvanized and uncoated samples of a high strength steel susceptible to liquid metal embrittlement during spot welding with applied external load. Therefore, a newly developed tensile test method with a simultaneously applied spot weld is conducted. A fully coupled 3D electrical, thermal, metallurgical and mechanical finite element model depicting the resistant spot welding process combined with the tensile test conducted is mandatory to correct geometric influences of the sample geometry and provides insights into the sample’s time dependent local loading. With increasing external loads, the morphology of the brittle cracks formed is affected more than the crack depth. The validated finite element model applies newly developed damage indicators to predict and explain the liquid metal embrittlement cracking onset and development as well as even ductile failure.
A fundamental study of physical mechanisms of wineglass-shaped fusion zone profile in laser melting
(2024)
The fusion zone geometry in laser melting processes e.g., laser welding and laser-based additive manufacturing, of metallic materials has commonly a wineglass-shaped profile which is critical to the grain orientation and stress distribution. Hereby, we adopt for the first time a decoupling work through a combination of multi-physics modelling and experiments to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of this special morphology. Two physicsbased easy-to-use metal vapour models are proposed to consider the vapour’s momentum and thermal effects separately. It is found that the direct laser energy absorption and Marangoni shear stress which are widely hypothesised to dominate the wineglass-shape formation show only a minor influence. The additional heating from the metallic vapour plume rather than its momentum impact contributes predominantly to the enlarging of the molten pool top region, resulting directly in the formation of the wineglass-shaped fusion zone. The generality of the plume heating effect is also validated in two types of materials (steel and Al) in a wide range of parameters.
Beim Unterpulverschweißen sind die Prozessgeräusche ein Indikator für eine gute Fügequalität. Diese Beurteilung kann i.d.R. nur von einer erfahrenen Fachkraft durchgeführt werden. Eine kürzlich entwickelte künstliche Intelligenz kann automatisch das akustische Prozesssignal anhand vortrainierter Merkmale klassifizieren und die Fügequalität anhand des Geräuschs beurteilen. Der Algorithmus, einmal richtig trainiert, kann den Prüfaufwand beim Unterpulverschweißen deutlich reduzieren.
The present Ph.D. thesis provides a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the bulging-cracking relationship in laser beam welding of thick unalloyed steel sheets. It focuses on experimentally proving the existence of the bulging region and on developing a coupled multiphysics mathematical framework to analyze its influence on the three critical factors controlling the susceptibility to solidification cracking, namely the thermal, metallurgical, and mechanical factors.
The research employs a novel experimental setup, utilizing a combination of transparent quartz glass and thick unalloyed steel sheet, enabling real-time visualization of the weld pool geometry and confirming the existence of a distinctive bulging region. To deepen the understanding of these experimental insights, an extensive multiphysics mathematical framework was developed and rigorously verified and validated. This framework introduces an innovative approach using Lamé curves for accurately describing complex three-dimensional weld pool geometries, including the bulging region's characteristics. Through analytical solutions and numerical procedures, it facilitates the computation of solidification parameters, which are crucial for understanding the metallurgical aspects of crack formation. The framework also incorporates a mechanical model to assess and evaluate the local stress distribution within the bulging region.
The findings indicate that an elongated, sharply shaped bulging region significantly increases the susceptibility to solidification cracking. This is attributed to its adverse impact on the distribution and local dwell time of liquid metal residing at grain boundaries during solidification, combined with the localized tensile stresses identified in the bulging region.
In essence, this research contributes to the broader understanding of solidification cracking in laser beam welding of thick unalloyed steel sheets, with a particular focus on the bulging region. The insights and methodologies developed in this thesis are valuable for future research and advancements in the application of the laser beam welding technology for joining high-thickness unalloyed steel components.
The spatial laser energy absorption inside the keyhole is decisive for the dynamic molten pool behaviors and the resultant weld properties in high-power laser beam welding (LBW). In this paper, a numerical simulation of the LBW process, considering the 3D transient heat transfer, fluid flow, and keyhole dynamics, is implemented, in which the free surface is tracked by the volume-of-fluid algorithm. The underlying laser-material interactions i.e., the multiple reflections and Fresnel absorption, are considered by an advanced ray-tracing method based on a localized Level-Set strategy and a temperature-dependent absorption coefficient. The laser energy absorption is analyzed from a time-averaged point of view for a better statistical representation. It is found for the first time that a noticeable drop of the time-averaged laser energy absorption occurs at the focus position of the laser beam, and the rest region of the keyhole has relatively homogenous absorbed energy. This unique absorption pattern may lead to a certain keyhole instability and have a strong correlation with the detrimental bulging and narrowing phenomena in the molten pool. The influence of the different focus positions of the laser beam on the keyhole dynamics and molten pool profile is also analyzed and compared. The obtained numerical results are compared with experimental measurements to assure the validity of the proposed model.
The amount of absorbed energy in the keyhole as well as its spatial and temporal distribution is essential to model the laser beam welding process. The recoil pressure, which develops because of the evaporation process induced by the absorbed laser energy at the keyhole wall, is a key determining factor for the macroscopic flow of the molten metal in the weld pool during high-power laser beam welding. Consequently, a realistic implementation of the effect of laser radiation on the weld metal is crucial to obtain reliable and accurate simulation results. In this paper, we discuss manyfold different improvements on the laser-material interaction, namely, the ray tracing method, in the numerical simulation of the laser beam welding process. The first improvement relates to locating the exact reflection points in the ray tracing method using a so-called cosine condition in the determination algorithm for the intersection of reflected rays and the keyhole surface. A second correction refers to the numerical treatment of the Gaussian distribution of the laser beam, whose beam width is defined by a decay of the laser intensity by a factor of 1/e2, thus ignoring around 14% of the total laser beam energy. In the third step, the changes in the laser radiation distribution in the vertical direction were adapted by using different approximations for the converging and the diverging regions of the laser beam, thus mimicking the beam caustic. Finally, a virtual mesh refinement was adopted in the ray tracing routine. The obtained numerical results were validated with experimental measurements.
The effect of the oscillating metal vapor plume on the keyhole and molten pool behavior during the laser beam welding of AlMg3 aluminum alloys is investigated by experimental and numerical methods. The real-time height of the metal vapor plume is measured by high-speed camera observation. The obtained experimental results are used to evaluate the additional heating source and laser beam attenuation caused by the scattering and absorption based on the Beer–Lambert theory. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the metal vapor plume is incorporated into a 3D transient heat transfer and fluid flow model, coupled with the ray tracing method, for the laser beam welding of the AlMg3 alloy. It is found that additional heating resulting from the scattered and absorbed laser beam energy by the metal vapor plume significantly expands the shape of the molten pool on the top region. Moreover, the oscillating metal vapor plume caused the fluctuation of the high-temperature region in the molten pool. The probability of keyhole collapse at the bottom increases 17% due to the oscillating laser power induced by the laser beam attenuation. The internal interplay between the metal vapor plume, molten pool shape, and keyhole collapse is obtained. The developed model has been validated by experiments, which shows a good agreement.
Magnetohydrodynamic technology is increasingly recognized as a promising approach for enhancing the quality of deep penetration laser beam welding. This study employs experimental and numerical methods to investigate the effects of an auxiliary oscillating magnetic field on reducing porosity in the laser beam welding of 5754 aluminum alloy. The experimental results clearly demonstrate a significant reduction in the porosity ratio, thereby validating the efficacy of applying MHD technology in mitigating porosity during the laser beam welding process. In addition, a transient 3D multi-physical model has been developed, integrating the magnetohydrodynamic and metal vapor plume, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the porosity suppression mechanism. The introduction of an oscillating magnetic field generates a time-averaged downward Lorentz force. This Lorentz force, in turn, induces an electromagnetic expulsive force, which effectively increases the upward escape velocity of bubbles in the molten pool. Furthermore, the molten pool shape is significantly enlarged, which further facilitate the escape of bubbles. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results.
The effect of the oscillating metal vapor plume on the keyhole and molten pool behavior during the laser beam welding of AlMg3 aluminum alloys is investigated by experimental and numerical methods. The real-time height of the metal vapor plume is measured by high-speed camera observation. The obtained experimental results are used to evaluate the additional heating source and laser beam attenuation caused by the scattering and absorption based on the Beer–Lambert theory. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the metal vapor plume is incorporated into a 3D transient heat transfer and fluid flow model, coupled with the ray tracing method, for the laser beam welding of the AlMg3 alloy. It is found that additional heating resulting from the scattered and absorbed laser beam energy by the metal vapor plume significantly expands the shape of the molten pool on the top region. Moreover, the oscillating metal vapor plume caused the fluctuation of the high-temperature region in the molten pool. The probability of keyhole collapse at the bottom increases 17% due to the oscillating laser power induced by the laser beam attenuation. The internal interplay between the metal vapor plume, molten pool shape, and keyhole collapse is obtained. The developed model has been validated by experiments, which shows a good agreement.
Numerical study on the formation of a bulging region in partial penetration laser beam welding
(2023)
A transient three-dimensional thermo-fluid dynamics numerical model was developed to study the formation of a bulging region in partial penetration laser beam welding. The model accounts for the coupling between the fluid flow, the heat transfer, and the keyhole dynamics by considering the effects of multiple reflections and Fresnel absorption of the laser beam in the keyhole, the phase transitions during melting and evaporating, the thermo-capillary convection, the natural convection, and the phase-specific and temperature-dependent material properties up to the evaporation temperature. The validity of the model was backed up by experimentally obtained data, including the drilling time, the weld pool length, the local temperature history outside the weld pool, the process efficiency, and a range of metallographic crosssections.
The model was applied for the cases of partial penetration laser beam welding of 8 mm and 12 mm thick unalloyed steel sheets. The obtained experimental and numerical results reveal that the bulging region forms transiently depending on the penetration depth of the weld, showing a tendency to transition from a slight bulging to a fully developed bulging region between penetration depths of 6 mm and 9 mm, respectively.
A three-dimensional numerical model was developed to accurately predict the steady-state weld pool shape in full penetration laser beam welding. The model accounts for the coupling between the heat transfer and the fluid dynamics by considering the effects of solid/liquid phase transition, thermo-capillary convection, natural convection, and phase-specific and temperature-dependent material properties up to the evaporation temperature. A fixed right circular cone was utilized as a keyhole geometry to consider the heat absorbed from the laser beam. The model was used to analyze the influence of the thermodynamic activity of solutes and turbulence on the weld pool shape. A mesh sensitivity analysis was performed on a hybrid mesh combining hexahedral and tetrahedral elements. For the case of full penetration laser beam welding of 8 mm thick unalloyed steel sheets, the dependence of the weld pool shape on the surface-active element sulfur was found to be negligible. The analysis of the results showed that a laminar formulation is sufficient for accurately predicting the weld pool shape since the turbulence has a minor impact on the flow dynamics in the weld pool. The validity of the numerical results was backed up by experimental measurements and observations, including weld pool length, local temperature history, and a range of metallographic crosssections.
The contactless magnetohydrodynamic technology has been considered as a potential and promising method to improve the weld qualities of deep penetration laser beam welding. In this paper, numerical investigations are conducted to study the influence of the auxiliary oscillating magnetic field on the porosity suppression in laser beam welding of 5754 aluminum alloy. To obtain a deeper insight into the suppression mechanism, a three-dimensional transient multi-physical model is developed to calculate the heat transfer, fluid flow, keyhole dynamic, and magnetohydrodynamics. A ray tracing algorithm is employed to calculate the laser energy distribution on the keyhole wall. A time-averaged downward Lorentz force is produced by an oscillating magnetic field. This force acts in the molten pool, leading to a dominant downward flow motion in the longitudinal section, which blocks the bubble migration from the keyhole tip to the rear part of the molten pool. Therefore, the possibility for the bubbles to be captured by the solidification front is reduced. The electromagnetic expulsive force provides an additional upward escaping speed for the bubbles of 1 m/s ~ 5 m/s in the lower and middle region of the molten pool. The simulation results are in a good agreement with experimental measurements. Based on the results obtained in this study, a better understanding of the underlying physics in laser beam welding enhanced by an auxiliary oscillating magnetic field can be provided and thus the welding process can be further optimized reducing the porosity formation.
Numerical analysis of ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding of dissimilar Al/Mg alloys
(2023)
The ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding (UVeFSW) process has unique advantages in joining dissimilar Al/Mg alloys. While there are complex coupling mechanisms of multi-fields in the process, it is of great significance to model this process, to reveal the influence mechanism of ultrasonic vibration on the formation of Al/Mg joints.
In this study, the acoustic-plastic constitutive equation was established by considering the influence of both ultrasonic softening and residual hardening on the flow stress at different temperatures and strain rates. And the ultrasonic induced friction reduction (UiFR) effect on friction coefficient in different relative directions at the FSW tool-workpiece interface was quantitatively calculated and analyzed.
The Al/Mg UVeFSW process model was developed through introducing the above acoustic effects into the model of Al/Mg friction stir welding (FSW). The ultrasonic energy is stronger on the aluminum alloy side. In the stirred zone, there is the pattern distribution of ultrasonic sound pressure and energy. The heat generation at the tool-workpiece contact interface and viscous dissipation were reduced after applying ultrasonic vibra-tion. Due to the UiFR effect, the projection of friction coefficient and heat flux distributions at the tool-workpiece interface present a "deformed" butterfly shape. The calculated results show that ultrasonic vibra-tion enhanced the material flow and promoted the mixing of dissimilar materials.
The weld quality and the possible defect formation are directly determined by the weld pool shape and the thermo-fluid dynamics therein. In this paper, an untypical weld pool profile, i.e., elongated at its top and bottom but narrowed at the middle, is found experimentally and numerically in the wire feed laser beam welding. The detrimental influence of the weld pool narrowing on the element transport is analyzed and discussed. A magnetohydrodynamic technique is utilized to suppress the narrowing, aiming at a more homogenous element distribution. It is found that a low-temperature region is formed in the middle of the weld pool due to the interaction of the two dominant circulations from the top and bottom regions. The weld pool is significantly narrowed due to the untypical growth of the mushy zone in the low-temperature region, which results in a direct blocking effect on the downward flow and the premature solidification in the middle region. The Lorentz force produced by a transverse oscillating magnetic field shows the potential to change the flow pattern into a single-circulation type and the low-temperature-gradient region is mitigated.
Therefore, the downward transfer channel is widened, and its premature solidification is prevented. The numerical results are well validated by experimental measurements of metal/glass observation and X-ray fluorescence element mapping.
Through experimental observation and auxiliary numerical simulation, this investigation studies the different types of grain refinement of 5754 aluminum alloy laser beam welding by applying a transverse oscillating magnetic field. Scanning electron microscope results have proved that the application of a magnetic field can reduce the average crystal branch width and increase its number. The interaction between the induced eddy current generated by the Seebeck effect and the applied external magnetic field produces a Lorentz force, which is important for the increase of the number of crystal branches. Based on the theory of dendrite fragmentation and the magnetic field-induced branches increment, the grain size reduction caused by the magnetic field is studied. Furthermore, the effects of the magnetic field are analyzed by combining a phase field method model and simulations of nucleation and grain growth. The grain distribution and average grain size after welding verifies the reliability of the model. In addition, the introduction of a magnetic field can increase the number of periodic three-dimensional solidification patterns. In the intersection of two periods of solidification patterns, the metal can be re-melted and then re-solidified, which prevents the grains that have been solidified and formed previously from further growth and generates some small cellular grains in the new fusion line. The magnetic field increases the building frequency of these solidification structures and thus promotes this kind of grain refinement.
Der Absorptionsgrad metallischer Werkstoffe spielt bei Fügeprozessen mit einer Strahlungsquelle wie dem Hochleistungslaserstrahltiefschweißen eine bedeutende Rolle. Dieser beeinflusst die Menge der absorbierten Laserenergie, welche zum Aufschmelzen sowie zur lokalen Verdampfung des zu verbindenden Materials führt. Eine der wichtigsten Eigenschaften der Laserstrahlabsorption ist die Temperaturabhängigkeit. Dennoch wird sie in vielen Simulationsarbeiten häufig ignoriert und stattdessen ein angepasster Parameter zur Kalibrierung der Ergebnisse implementiert. Diese Vorgehensweise wirkt sich negativ auf die Zuverlässigkeit sowie die Genauigkeit des numerischen Modells sowie auf die Vorhersagbarkeit der Simulationsergebnisse aus. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Laserabsorption in ein selbstkonsistentes zweiphasiges Modell unter Berücksichtigung der gekoppelten 3D-Fluidströmung und Wärmeübertragung einbezogen. Die berechnete Laserstrahlabsorption wird durch die temperaturabhängigen Materialeigenschaften, die Lasercharakteristik und den Einfallswinkel des Laserstrahls bestimmt. Die freie Oberfläche jeder Phase wird mithilfe der volume-of-fluid Methode, kurz VOF, berechnet und die Laser-Material-Wechselwirkung wird durch ein neulich implementiertes Ray-Tracing-Verfahren modelliert, die auf einem lokalisierten Level-Set-Algorithmus basiert. Anschließend wird die transiente Wärmeeinbringung und die Geometrie der Schweißnaht analysiert und mit dem temperaturunabhängigen Absorptionsmodell verglichen. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Laserabsorption entscheidend für die genaue Bestimmung der Wärmeeinbringung und der Schmelzbadgeometrie ist. Das entwickelte Modell wurde anhand der experimentellen Untersuchungen validiert und die Bedeutung der Temperaturabhängigkeit bei der Laserstrahlabsorption wurde für die Simulation des Laserstrahltiefschweißens aufgeklärt.
The effect of the oscillating metal vapor plume on the keyhole and molten pool behavior during the laser beam welding of AlMg3 aluminum alloys is investigated by the experimental and numerical method. The real-time height of the metal vapor plume is measured by high-speed camera observation. The obtained experimental results are used to evaluate the additional heating source and laser beam attenuation caused by the scattering and absorption based on the Beer-Lambert theory. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the metal vapor plume is incorporated into a 3D transient heat transfer and fluid flow model, coupled with the ray tracing method, for the laser beam welding of the AlMg3 alloy. It is found that the additional heating resulting from the scattered and absorbed laser beam energy by the metal vapor plume significantly expands the shape of the molten pool on the top region. Moreover, the oscillating metal vapor plume caused the fluctuation of the molten pool shape. The probability of keyhole collapse at the bottom increases significantly to 72% due to the oscillating laser power induced by the laser beam attenuation. The internal interplay between the metal vapor plume, molten pool shape, and the keyhole collapse are obtained. The developed model has been validated by the experiments, which shows a good agreement.
The strain field can reflect the initiation time of solidification cracks during the welding process. The traditional strain measurement is to first obtain the displacement field through digital image correlation (DIC) or optical flow and then calculate the strain field. The main disadvantage is that the calculation takes a long time, limiting its suitability to real-time applications. Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have made impressive achievements in computer vision.
To build a good prediction model, the network structure and dataset are two key factors. In this paper, we first create the training and test sets containing welding cracks using the controlled tensile weldability (CTW) test and obtain the real strain fields through the Lucas–Kanade algorithm. Then, two new networks using ResNet and DenseNet as encoders are developed for strain prediction, called StrainNetR and StrainNetD. The results show that the average endpoint error (AEE) of the two networks on our test set is about 0.04, close to the real strain value. The computation time could be reduced to the millisecond level, which would greatly improve efficiency.
A technique for calculating the main solidification parameters for a two-dimensional columnar crystal growth during complete penetration laser beam welding of thin steel sheets was developed. Given that the weld pool interface is described by Lamé curves (superellipses) within the horizontal plane of growth, general analytical solutions were derived for the geometry of the crystal axis and the corresponding growth rate and cross-sectional area of the crystal. A dimensionless analysis was performed to provide insights on the dependence of the solidification parameters on the shape and dimensions of the rear part of the weld pool boundary. The derived solutions were applied for the case of complete penetration laser beam keyhole welding of 2 mm thick 316L austenitic chromium-nickel steel sheets. It was shown that the reconstruction of the weld pool boundary with Lamé curves provides higher accuracy and flexibility compared to results obtained with elliptical functions. The validity of the proposed technique and the derived analytical solutions was backed up by a comparison of the obtained solutions to known analytical solutions and experimentally determined shapes and sizes of the crystals on the top surface of the sheet. The dimensions of the calculated crystal axis correlated well with the experimentally obtained results.
Understanding the void defect formation mechanism and simultaneous predicting the tool service life in friction stir welding are critical for optimizing the welding parameters. However, the void defect formation mechanism in friction stir welding is not yet elucidated. In this study, a novel integrated thermal-fluid-structure coupling model of the friction stir welding process was proposed for simultaneous prediction of the weld formation and tool service life. A new non-uniform distribution model of the tool-workpiece contact pressure was proposed to describe the interaction between the tool and the workpiece. The void defect formation mechanism was quantitatively studied using the proposed integrated thermal-fluid-structure coupling model. The results show that the plastic material flows in the horizontal direction and can completely fill the cavity behind the tool for the welding condition of forming a sound weld. While the tool-workpiece contact interfacial frictional shear stress in the rear of the tool is decreased significantly which leads to a severe decrease in the plastic material flow velocity. Therefore, after bypassing the tool from the retreating side, the plastic material at the bottom of the weld stagnates, and void defect forms in the middle and lower part of the weld at the advancing side. The difference between the maximum and the minimum tool-workpiece contact pressure could serve as a numerical criterion to predict void defects. A sound joint is formed when the difference is lower than the critical value of 15 MPa, while a void defect is formed in the weld if it is higher than this critical value. The maximum equivalent stress acting on the tool is located at the pin root with severe stress concentration at a high welding speed. The front of the tool is subjected to tensile stress while its rear is subjected to compressive stress, therefore the tool is apt to fracture at its root under an inappropriate welding condition. The average normal stress of the tool varies periodically with its period consistent with the rotation period of the tool. The service life of the tool is decreased with the increase in welding speed and the decrease in rotation speed. The model is validated by experimental results.
AbstractLaser beam welding has become widely applied in many industrial fields in recent years. Solidification cracks remain one of the most common welding faults that can prevent a safe welded joint. In civil engineering, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been successfully used to detect cracks in roads and buildings by analysing images of the constructed objects. These cracks are found in static objects, whereas the generation of a welding crack is a dynamic process. Detecting the formation of cracks as early as possible is greatly important to ensure high welding quality. In this study, two end-to-end models based on long short-term memory and three-dimensional convolutional networks (3D-CNN) are proposed for automatic crack formation detection. To achieve maximum accuracy with minimal computational complexity, we progressively modify the model to find the optimal structure. The controlled tensile weldability test is conducted to generate long videos used for training and testing. The performance of the proposed models is compared with the classical neural network ResNet-18, which has been proven to be a good transfer learning model for crack detection. The results show that our models can detect the start time of crack formation earlier, while ResNet-18 only detects cracks during the propagation stage.
New developments in nickel-based superalloys and production methods, such as the use of additive manufacturing (AM), can result in innovative designs for turbines. It is crucial to understand how the material behaves during the AM process to advance industrial use of these techniques. An analytical model based on reaction-diffusion formalism is developed to better explain the solidification behavior of the material during laser metal deposition (LMD). The well-known Scheil-Gulliver theory has some drawbacks, such as the assumption of equilibrium at the solid-liquid interface, which is addressed by this method. The solidified fractions under the Scheil model and the pure equilibrium model are calculated using CALPHAD simulations. Differential scanning calorimeter is used to measure the heat flow during the solid-liquid phase transformation, the result of which is further converted to solidified fractions. The analytical model is compared with all the other models for validation.
High-power hybrid laser arc welding of thick materials with electromagnetic weld pool support
(2023)
In addition to the many advantages of deep penetration, increased welding speed and a low sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances such as gap and edge offset, the hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) process is used increasingly in industrial applications such as shipbuilding or pipeline manufacturing. Nonetheless, thick-walled sheets with a wall thickness of 20 mm or more are still multi-pass welded using the arc welding process, due to increased process instability by increasing laser power. Welding at reduced speed, especially in a flat position, leads to an irregular formation of the root part such as dropping. The hydrostatic pressure exceeds the surface tension, which decreases with increasing seam width. In order to prevent gravity drop-outs, the use of a melt pool support is necessary. Usual weld pool supports such as ceramic or powder supports require time-consuming mechanical detachment. The electromagnetic weld pool support system, which is described in this study, operates without contact and based on generating Lorentz forces in the weld pool. An externally applied oscillating magnetic field induces eddy currents and generates an upward directed Lorentz force, which counteracts the hydrostatic pressure. This allows single-pass welds up to 30 mm by hybrid laser arc welding process with a 20-kW fibre laser. Moreover, it is favoured by the diminished welding speed the cooling rate which leads to an improvement of the mechanical-technological properties of the seams – the lower formation of martensite in the microstructure enables better Charpy impact toughness. The electromagnetic weld pool support extends the limitation of the laser hybrid welding process in the thick sheet area. By adapting the electromagnetic weld pool support to the laser and laser hybrid welding process, the application potential of these technologies for industrial implementation can be drastically increased.
The study deals with the influence of the heat input on the thermal cycles, the microstructure and the mechanical properties for laser-hybrid welded steels of S355J2 with thicknesses up to 30 mm using a 20-kW high-power laser with contactless electromagnetic backing. The focus is on the change of the mechanical properties over the seam thickness. Therefore, the impact toughness and tensile strength were tested in different depths. Based on the experiments, a heat input of 1.3 kJ/mm - 1.6 kJ/mm, 2 kJ/mm - 2.4 kJ/mm and 3.7 kJ/mm were recommended when single-pass welding of 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm with a 20-kW laser in regard to the minimum requirements of the mechanical properties, respectively. Lower heat inputs led to undesired microstructure consisting of martensite, hardening and deteriorated impact toughness, where higher heat inputs led to grain-coarsening and even loss of impact strength due to the formation of retained-austenite on the grain boundaries.
The laser hybrid welding process offers many advantages during welding oft hick-walled steels, such as the increased penetration depth and, thus, reduced number of layers, reduced heat input and decreased distortion compared to arc-based welding processes. Especially, when welding high-strength steels (HSS), the reduced heat input plays an essential role. However, a major challenge when laser hybrid welding of thick-walled steels is the limited filler wire mixing over the entire seam thickness, which can lead to changed mechanical properties over the depth. To overcome this issue, the add of oxygen into the shielding gas and its influence on the filler wire mixing and finally to the mechanical properties were investigated within this work. Therefore, 20 mm thick S690QL steels were laser hybrid welded in a single-pass. A contactless electromagnetic backing was used to avoid sagging. The admixture of oxygen was performed by a gas mixer, where the oxygen content was varied between 0 % and 7.2 %. The experiments were also accompanied by laser beam welding tests in steel/glass configuration, where the melt pool geometry as well as the melt flow characteristics were captured by a high-speed camera. It can be concluded, that adding of 2 % to 4 % oxygen into the shielding gas had a positive effect on the filler wire mixing, were up to a depth of 18 mm elements of the filler wire could be observed.
Durch pulverbasiertes Directed-Energy Deposition lassen sich Gradierungen fertigen, um diskrete Materialübergänge zu vermeiden und die Lebensdauer von Hartschichten zu erhöhen. Die Kombination aus Stahl als Basiswerkstoff und einer verschleiß- und korrosionsbeständigen Co-Cr Legierung verspricht durch Vermeiden von Spannungskonzentrationen das Verhindern von Abplatzungen und Rissen in der Schutzschicht. Um die Qualität des gefertigten Bauteils zu beurteilen, liegen für solche Funktional Gradierten Materialien (FGM) wenig Erkenntnisse vor. Daher wird im Rahmen dieser Studie eine Methodik erarbeitet, um die relative Dichte eines Funktional Gradierten Materials auf Stahl und Co-Cr Basis mittels Maschinendaten zu bestimmen. Anschließend wird unter Einsatz eines künstlichen neuronalen Netzes anhand von Sensordaten die relative Dichte vorhergesagt. Das trainierte Netz erreicht eine Vorhersagegenauigkeiten von 99,83%. Abschließend wird eine Anwendung anhand von einem Demonstrator gezeigt.
Eine typische Automobilkarosserie kann bis zu 5000 Widerstandspunktschweißverbindungen aufweisen, welche hohen Qualitätsanforderungen genügen müssen. Daher ist eine durchgehende Prozessüberwachung unerlässlich. Die Transformation zur E-Mobilität in der Automobilindustrie und die damit einhergehende Reichweitenproblematik treiben die Entwicklung und Einführung neuer hochfester Stähle an. Dies resultiert in einem gesteigerten Fertigungsaufwand hinsichtlich einer stabilen Prozess-führung in der Fügetechnik. Um diesen Anstieg an Komplexität zu bewältigen, sind die Methoden der künstlichen Intelligenz ein geeignetes Mittel. Mit ihnen kann, durch Auswertung der Prozessparameter und -signale, die individuelle Schweißpunktqualität sichergesellt werden. Die Vorhersagegenauigkeit von neuen Daten, also das extrapolieren, stellt für die meisten Algorithmen eine große Herausforderung dar.
In dieser Arbeit wird ein künstliches neuronales Netz zur Vorhersage des Punktdurchmessers von Widerstandspunktschweißungen anhand von Prozessparametern implementiert. Die Vorhersagegenauigkeit und Extrapolationsfähigkeit des Modells wird durch die Auswertung des dynamischen Widerstandssignals verbessert.
Um die Extrapolationsfähigkeit zu untersuchen, wird die Vorhersagegenauigkeit des Modells mit Daten getestet, die sich in Bezug auf den Werkstoff und der Beschichtungszusammensetzung deutlich von den Trainingsdaten unterscheiden. Dazu wurden mehrere Schweißexperimente mit Werkstoffen verschiedener Hersteller durchgeführt und nur ein Teil der Daten in das Training einbezogen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit verdeutlichen den positiven Einfluss der Prozesssignale auf die Robustheit des Modells und die Skalierbarkeit der Algorithmen
künstlicher neuronaler Netze auf Daten außerhalb des Trainingsraums.
Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracking is a phenomenon observed during resistance spot welding (RSW) of zinccoated advanced highstrength steels (AHSS) in automotive manufacturing. In this study, severe cracks are observed at the edge of the sheet under reduced flange widths. These cracks, traversing the AHSS sheet, culminate at the edge with a width of approximately 1.2 mm.
Through combined numerical and experimental investigations, and material testing, these cracks are identified and validated as a new type of LME crack. The mechanism behind this crack formation is attributed to unique geometric conditions that, when compared to center welding, amplify radial material flow by ninefold to 0.87 mm. The resultant tangential tensile stresses approximate 760 MPa, which exceed the yield strength of the examined advanced highstrength steel (AHSS) under heightened temperature conditions, and when combined with liquid zinc, promote the formation of this new type of LME crack.
The present work deals with the recently confirmed widening of the weld pool interface, known as a bulging effect, and its relevance in high power laser beam welding. A combined experimental and numerical approach is utilized to study the influence of the bulge on the hot cracking formation and the transport of alloying elements in the molten pool. A technique using a quartz glass, a direct-diode laser illumination, a high-speed camera, and two thermal imaging cameras is applied to visualize the weld pool geometry in the longitudinal section. The study examines the relevance of the bulging effect on both, partial and complete penetration, as well as for different sheet thicknesses ranging from 8 mm to 25 mm. The numerical analysis shows that the formation of a bulge region is highly dependent on the penetration depth and occurs above 10 mm penetration depth. The location of the bulge correlates strongly with the cracking location. The obtained experimental and numerical results reveal that the bulging effect increases the hot cracking susceptibility and limits the transfer of alloying elements from the top of the weld pool to the weld root.
The spatial laser energy absorption inside the keyhole is decisive for the dynamic molten pool behaviors and the resultant weld properties in high-power laser beam welding (LBW). In this paper, a numerical simulation of the LBW process, considering the 3D transient heat transfer, fluid flow, and keyhole dynamics, is implemented, in which the free surface is tracked by the volume-of-fluid algorithm. The underlying laser-material interactions, i.e., the multiple reflections and Fresnel absorption, are considered by an advanced ray-tracing method based on a localized level-set strategy and a temperature-dependent absorption coefficient. The laser energy absorption is analyzed from a time-averaged point of view for a better statistical representation. It is found for the first time that a significant drop in the time-averaged laser energy absorption occurs at the focus position of the laser beam and that the rest of the keyhole region has relatively homogeneous absorbed energy. This unique absorption pattern may lead to a certain keyhole instability and have a strong correlation with the detrimental bulging and narrowing phenomena in the molten pool. The influence of different focus positions of the laser beam on the keyhole dynamics and molten pool profile is also analyzed. The obtained numerical results are compared with experimental measurements to ensure the validity of the proposed model.
The spatial laser energy absorption inside the keyhole is decisive for the dynamic molten pool behaviors and the resultant weld properties in high-power laser beam welding (LBW). In this paper, a numerical simulation of the LBW process, considering the 3D transient heat transfer, fluid flow, and keyhole dynamics, is implemented, in which the free surface is tracked by the volume-of-fluid algorithm. The underlying laser-material interactions i.e., the multiple reflections and Fresnel absorption, are considered by an advanced ray-tracing method based on a localized Level-Set strategy and a temperature-dependent absorption coefficient. The laser energy absorption is analyzed from a time-averaged point of view for a better statistical representation. It is found for the first time that a noticeable drop of the time-averaged laser energy absorption occurs at the focus position of the laser beam, and the rest region of the keyhole has relatively homogenous absorbed energy. This unique absorption pattern may lead to a certain keyhole instability and have a strong correlation with the detrimental bulging and narrowing phenomena in the molten pool. The influence of the different focus positions of the laser beam on the keyhole dynamics and molten pool profile is also analyzed and compared. The obtained numerical results are compared with experimental measurements to assure the validity of the proposed model.
AISI 2205 duplex stainless steel is used in a variety of industries, including the chemical and petrochemical industries. This is due to its high tensile strength combined with good ductility and corrosion resistance. However, in laser beam welding, these properties are negatively afected by the high cooling rates typical of the welding process. The resulting higher ferrrite content in the weld metal than in the base material leads to a reduction in the ductility and corrosion resistance of the welded joint. To overcome this problem, in this study, thick plates were coated by direct energy deposition (DED) prior to laser beam welding, whereas a duplex powder mixture containing a higher nickel concentration was used as a coating material. To improve the weld quality for the proposed two-step process, a method of additional material deposition instead of conventional tack weld was investigated. The resulting welded joints showed a well-balanced austenite to ferrite ratio and their properties and microstructure were verifed by metallographic analysis, electron backscatter difraction and Charpy impact testing. Using the standard ASTM G48 test method, it was found that the corrosion resistance of the welds was improved by a factor of four in average compared to the conventionally welded joints. The resulting properties, such as good ductility and corrosion resistance, of the welds with pre-coated edges showed good agreement with those of the base metal and confrmed the proposed two-step process as a promising alternative to the conventional approaches for welding thick duplex stainless steel plates.
Im Additive Manufacturing Verfahren Directed Energy Deposition (DED) wird bei der Verarbeitung von Werkzeugstahl in der Regel reines Argon als Schutzgas verwendet. Dabei kann die Verwendung von speziellen Schutzgasgemischen, auch bei geringen Anteilen zugemischter Gase, durchaus die Bauteilqualität positiv beeinflussen.
In Vorarbeiten der Messer SE & Co. KGaA zeigte ein gewisser Sauerstoffanteil im Schutzgas die Tendenz, den Flankenwinkel von Schweißspuren beim DED zu verbessern. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde daher detailliert untersucht in wie weit unterschiedliche Schutzgasgemische einen Einfluss auf die Qualität sowie die geometrischen Eigenschaften der additiv gefertigten Strukturen des Werkzeugstahls 1.2709 beim Laser-DED ausüben. Es erfolgten zunächst Testschweißungen in Form von Einzelspuren mit unterschiedlichen Gemischen aus dem Basisschutzgas Argon mit geringen Anteilen verschiedener Gase. Dabei wurde der Einfluss der Zusätze auf die Spurgeometrie und Aufbauqualität untersucht. Auf Basis dieser Vorversuche wurde eine Auswahl vielversprechender Gasgemische getroffen und Detailuntersuchungen in Form von Spuren, Flächen und Quadern unter Zugabe verschiedener Mengen an Zusätzen durchgeführt. Zur Bewertung des Einflusses der Schutzgasbeimengungen wurden der Flankenwinkel, die Porosität und das Gefüge der Proben anhand metallografischer Schliffe untersucht. Es zeigte sich, dass eine Zugabe von geringen Anteilen an Zusätzen zunächst zu einer Vergrößerung des Flankenwinkels im Vergleich zu reinem Argon führt. Mit steigendem Anteil der Gase nimmt dieser Winkel jedoch ab. So kann je nach Menge des zugesetzten Gases eine individuelle Benetzung des aufgetragenen Materials an der Oberfläche erreicht werden. Auch die Porosität ließ sich durch Schutzgasgemische beeinflussen und zeigt ein abweichendes Verhalten im Vergleich zu reinem Argon.
Through experimental observation and auxiliary numerical simulation, this investigation studies the different types of grain refinement of 5754 aluminum alloy laser beam welding by applying a transverse oscillating magnetic field. Scanning electron microscope results have proved that the application of a magnetic field can reduce the average crystal branch width and increase its number. The interaction between the induced eddy current generated by the Seebeck effect and the applied external magnetic field produces a Lorentz force, which is important for the increase in the number of crystal branches. Based on the theory of dendrite fragmentation and the magnetic field-induced branches increment, the grain size reduction caused by the magnetic field is studied. Furthermore, the effects of the magnetic field are analyzed by combining a phase field method model and simulations of nucleation and grain growth. The grain distribution and average grain
size after welding verify the reliability of the model. In addition, the introduction of a magnetic field can increase the number of periodic three-dimensional solidification patterns. In the intersection of two periods of solidification patterns, the metal can be re-melted and then re-solidified, which prevents the grains, that have been solidified and formed previously, from further growth and generates some small cellular grains in the new fusion line. The magnetic field increases the building frequency of these solidification structures and thus promotes this kind of grain refinement.
Through experimental observation and auxiliary numerical simulation, this investigation studies the different types of grain refinement of 5754 aluminum alloy laser beam welding by applying a transverse oscillating magnetic field. Scanning electron microscope results have proved that the application of a magnetic field can reduce the average crystal branch width and increase its number. The interaction between the induced eddy current generated by the Seebeck effect and the applied external magnetic field produces a Lorentz force, which is important for the increase in the number of crystal branches. Based on the theory of dendrite fragmentation and the magnetic field-induced branches increment, the grain size reduction caused by the magnetic field is studied. Furthermore, the effects of the magnetic field are ana lyzed by combining a phase field method model and simulations of nucleation and grain growth. The grain distribution and average grain size after welding verify the reliability of the model. In addition, the introduction of a magnetic field can increase the number of periodic three-dimensional solidification patterns. In the intersection of two periods of solidification patterns, the metal can be re-melted and then re-solidified, which prevents the grains, that have been solidified and formed previously, from further growth and generates some small cel lular grains in the new fusion line. The magnetic field increases the building frequency of these solidification structures and thus promotes this kind of grain refinement.
The amount of absorbed energy in the keyhole as well as its spatial and temporal distribution is essential to model the laser beam welding process. The recoil pressure, which develops because of the evaporation process induced by the absorbed laser energy at the keyhole wall, is a key determining factor for the macroscopic flow of the molten metal in the weld pool during high-power laser beam welding. Consequently, a realistic implementation of the effect of laser radiation on the weld metal is crucial to obtain reliable and accurate simulation results. In this paper, we discuss manyfold different improvements on the laser-material interaction, namely, the ray tracing method, in the numerical simulation of the laser beam welding process. The first improvement relates to locating the exact reflection points in the ray tracing method using a so-called cosine condition in the determination algorithm for the intersection of reflected rays and the keyhole surface. A second correction refers to the numerical treatment of the Gaussian distribution of the laser beam, whose beam width is defined by a decay of the laser intensity by a factor of 1/e2, thus ignoring around 14% of the total laser beam energy. In the third step, the changes in the laser radiation distribution in the vertical direction were adapted by using different approximations for the converging and the diverging regions of the laser beam, thus mimicking the beam caustic. Finally, a virtual mesh refinement was adopted in the ray tracing routine. The obtained numerical results were validated with experimental measurements.
The amount of absorbed energy in the keyhole as well as its spatial and temporal distribution is essential to model the laser beam welding process. The recoil pressure, which develops because of the evaporation process induced by the absorbed laser energy at the keyhole wall, is a key determining factor for the macroscopic flow of the molten metal in the weld pool during high-power laser beam welding. Consequently, a realistic implementation of the effect of the laser radiation on the weld metal is crucial to obtain reliable and accurate simulation results.
In this paper, we discuss manyfold different improvements on the laser-material interaction, namely the ray-tracing method, in the numerical simulation of the laser beam welding process. The first improvement relates to locating the exact reflection points in the ray tracing method using a so-called cosine condition in the determination algorithm for the intersection of the reflected rays and the keyhole surface. A second correction refers to the numerical treatment of the Gaussian distribution of the laser beam, whose beam width is defined by a decay of the laser intensity by a factor of 1/e2 thus ignoring around 14 % of the total laser beam energy. In a third step, the changes in the laser radiation distribution in the vertical direction were adapted by using different approximations for the converging and the diverging regions of the laser beam thus mimicking the beam caustic. Finally, a virtual mesh refinement was adopted in the ray tracing routine. The obtained numerical results were validated with experimental measurements.
Friction stir welding (FSW) has the capacity to join the Al/Ti dissimilar structures with superior mechanical properties. The microstructures and mechanical characteristics of Al/Ti dissimilar FSW joints are determined by the heat and mass transfer during the welding process. However, a quantitative study of the Al/Ti dissimilar FSW process is lacking. Therefore, using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and volume of fluid (VOF) approach, a multi-phase model was constructed for quantitatively analyzing the heat and mass transfer behaviour in dissimilar FSW of TC4 titanium alloy and AA2024-T4 aluminium alloy. The mixed material was treated as a functionally graded material (FGM) to compute the thermophysical characteristics at the weld nugget zone (WNZ). Due to the vast disparity in the thermophysical characteristics of aluminum and titanium alloy, the temperature field in Al/Ti dissimilar FSW was severely asymmetric. The temperature of titanium alloy on the advancing side (AS) was higher than that of aluminium alloy on the retreating side (RS) at the same distance from the tool centre line near the tool shoulder, but it was lower than that of aluminium alloy on the RS without the influence of the shoulder. Due to the high flow stress of titanium alloy, plastic material flow mostly occurred on the RS of aluminium alloy in the Al/Ti dissimilar FSW, with its percentage exceeding 80%. This model was validated by experiment results.
It is proposed to model the experimentally observed weld pool boundary with superellipses (Lamé curves) and to find the unknown parameters of the curves using optimization methods. It has been shown experimentally that during laser welding of austenitic stainless steel with a thickness of 2 mm at a speed of 20 mm/s, the rear weld pool part has a shape close to triangular which can be accurately approximated by a superellipse. Analytical dependences of the trajectory and growth rate of the crystal and its cross-sectional area on the geometry of the rear weld pool part are obtained.
The application of anti-corrosion coated, high-strength steels in the automotive industry has increased in recent years. In combination with various zinc-based surface coatings, liquid metal embrittlement cracking can be observed in some of these materials. A high-quality, crack-free spot-welded joint is essential to realize the lightweight potential of the materials. In this work, the LME susceptibility of different coatings, which will be determined by the crack length and the occurrence rate, will be investigated using a welding under external load setup. The uncoated specimens did not show any LME. EG, GI and GA showed significantly less LME than ZM coatings. The latter coatings showed much larger crack lengths than the EG, GI and GA coatings. Furthermore, two mechanisms regarding the LME occurrence rate were observed: the occurrence of LME in zinc–magnesium coatings was theorized to be driven by the material properties of the coatings, whereas the occurrence of LME at EG, GI and GA samples was forced mainly by the application of the external tensile load.
In the experimental setup of this work, the materials were exposed to unusually high mechanical loads (up to 80% of their yield strength) to evoke LME cracks.
Life cycle assessment of fusion welding processes considering upstream and downstream process steps
(2023)
In manufacturing, fusion welding processes consume significant resources, presenting a significant opportunity for reducing environmental impact. Although there is a qualitative understanding of the environmental implications of these processes, a quantitative assessment of key parameters remains complex. This study introduces a welding-specific methodology that employs life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantitatively evaluate the environmental footprint of fusion welding technologies. Our approach identifies and analyses the principal parameters affecting the environmental performance of various welding techniques, including traditional joint welding and additive manufacturing via the Direct Energy Deposition-Arc (DED-Arc) process. Real-time resource usage data is integrated to offer an innovative framework for directly deriving environmental impacts. This research contributes to optimising welding processes by providing a precise and quantifiable measure of their ecological impact. This facilitates the advancement of sustainable manufacturing practices.
In manufacturing, fusion welding processes use a lot of resources, which presents an opportunity to reduce environmental impact. While there is a general understanding of the environmental impact of these processes, it is difficult to quantitatively assess key parameters. This study introduces a welding-specific methodology that uses life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of fusion welding technologies. Our approach analyses the main parameters that affect the environmental performance of different welding techniques, including traditional methods and additive manufacturing through the Direct Energy Deposition-Arc (DED-Arc) process. We integrate real-time resource usage data to offer an innovative framework for directly deriving environmental impacts. This research contributes to optimising welding processes by providing a precise and quantifiable measure of their ecological impact, facilitating the advancement of sustainable manufacturing practices.
Direct energy deposition additive manufacturing technologies utilizing an electric arc offer a great potential in generating large volume metal components. However, the selection of process parameters that yield the desired near net shape design as well as the requested mechanical component behavior is not a trivial task due to the complex relationship. Exemplarily for additive manufacturing of high-strength precipitation hardening AlMgSi-aluminum alloy this paper shows the application of a newly developed matching solid welding wire doped with TiB as grain refiner. The correlation between process parameters and component quality is examined analyzing the size and distribution of pores as well as the grain morphology. Furthermore, the influences of different post-weld heat treatments are evaluated to meet the reference mechanical properties of the corresponding wrought material. Finally, the digital integration of the entire additive manufacturing chain enables an overall traceability of the relevant process steps which is the basis for a reliable subsequent quality assessment.
Abstract
In the post-processing of large maritime components, a considerable amount of waste in the form of milling and grinding chips is produced. At the same time, additive manufacturing technologies have shown great potential in producing high-volume parts for maritime applications, allowing novel design approaches and short lead times. In this context, this study presents a sustainable approach to recycle and use aluminium bronze waste material, generated during post-processing of large cast ship propellers, as feedstock for laser-powder directed energy deposition. The recycling technology used to produce powder batches is inductive re-melting in combination with ultrasonic atomization. The derived metal powders are characterized using digital image analysis, powder flowability tests, scanning electron microscopy as well as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Compared to conventional metal powders produced by gas atomization, the recycled material shows excellent sphericity and a powder size distribution with a higher content of finer and coarser particles. Metallographic sections of deposited additively produced specimens show an increased hardness and reduced ductility, but also competitive densities and higher yield and ultimate tensile strength compared to cast material. The process chain shows high potential for the maritime sector to enable circular and sustainable manufacturing.
The laser hybrid welding process offers many advantages such as the high penetration depth and high welding speed, and it is characterized by its low heat input compared to the arc-based welding processes, which makes the laser hybrid welding process as a suitable alternative process when welding thick-walled steels. However, there are some challenges when using laser hybrid welding process for thick steels. Due to the uneven cooling conditions and the inhomogeneous filler wire mixing, a typical laser hybrid weld can be divided into two different zones over the depth: the arc-dominated zone on the upper part and the laser-dominated zone in the root part. This leads to different mechanical properties in a laser hybrid welded joint. Due to the high cooling rates and the lack of filler wire in the laser-dominated zone, this area is more critical regarding the mechanical properties, especially the Charpy impact toughness. A low heat input can lead to undesired microstructure consisting of martensite, hardening and deteriorated impact toughness due to the high cooling rate, where higher heat inputs can lead to grain-coarsening and even loss of impact strength. This study deals with the influence of the welding speed and resulting heat input on the cooling rates, the microstructure and the mechanical properties of single-pass laser hybrid welded steels of S355J2 with thickness up to 30 mm. The experiments were performed with a 20-kW fibre laser system and a contactless electromagnetic weld backing on up to 30 mm thick steels in butt-joint configuration in 1G welding position. The cooling time was measured in three different locations near to fusion lines corresponding to different heights of the seam using a special configuration with pyrometers, collimators, and optical fibres. The test specimens for the Charpy impact testing and tensile testing were extracted in up to three different depths. Based on the experiments, a heat input of 1.3 kJ/mm - 1.6 kJ/mm, 2 kJ/mm - 2.4 kJ/mm and 3.7 kJ/mm were recommended when single-pass laser hybrid welding of 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm thick structural steels in regard to the minimum requirements of the mechanical properties, respectively. The optical measurement of the cooling times in different depths could be carried out reproducibly.
Die Wärmeverteilung des Lasers beim Laserstrahltiefschweißen ist für die Formgebung der Dampfkapillare und für die Schweißbaddynamik entscheidend. In dieser Arbeit werden die Laserwärmeverteilung und deren Einflüsse auf die Schweißbadtiefe sowie -breite numerisch anhand des Ray-Tracing-Verfahrens analysiert. Hierbei wird der La-serstrahl in mehreren Strahlenbündeln bzw. Subrays unterteilt. Diesbezüglich soll der Pfad der Subrays präzis be-rechnet werden, um die Dynamik der Dampfkapillare und des Schweißbades eines realen Schweißprozesses rich-tig abzubilden. Zu diesem Zweck beschäftigt sich die vorliegende Arbeit mit der Genauigkeitsverbesserung der Kontaktposition und der Reflexionsrichtung der Subrays auf der freien Oberfläche anhand der Level-Set-Methode. Um die Güte dieses Simulationsansatzes zu gewährleisten, wurde eine Gegenüberstellung mit den zwei klassischen Ray-Tracing-Verfahren mittels drei verschiedenen Benchmark-Testreihen durchgeführt. Anschließend wurden die Versuchsergebnisse zur Validierung der implementierten numerischen Ansätze verwendet. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit kann es gezeigt werden, dass unterschiedliche Wärmeverteilung aufgrund der verschiedenen Ray-Tracing-Verfahren deutlich zu erkennen ist, welche wiederum die Schweißbaddynamik sowie die lokalisierte Dampfkapil-lardynamik stark beeinflussen. Ferner wurde es bestätigt, dass die implementierte Level-Set-Methode zu einer ge-naueren Ermittlung der Kontaktposition und der Reflexionsrichtung der Subrays und somit zu einer Verbesserung der simulierten Schmelzkontur führt.
The main solidification parameters, namely the crystal axis, the growth rate, and the cross-sectional area of the columnar crystal control the primary microstructure and thus the final weld seam properties.
Limited understanding of solidification parameters due to complexities in experimental and theoretical weld pool boundary determination and
its mathematical description.
Application of local Lamé curves for efficient weld pool boundary reconstruction Derivation of general analytical solutions for the main solidification parameters of a two-dimensional columnar crystal growth during laser beam welding of thin steel sheets.
The Lamé curves approximation technique was successfully applied for the reconstruction of the rear part of the two-dimensional steady-state weld pool boundary. General analytical expressions for the main solidification parameters, namely the crystal axis, the growth rate and the cross-sectional area of the crystal were derived.
The derived expressions and herewith obtained results were verified and validated by comparing them to known theoretical solutions and experimental measurements. Dimensionless analysis of the influence of the size and shape of the rear weld pool boundary on the solidification parameters was provided.
The derived general solutions and the analysis provided allow for critical welding parameters to be estimated and adapted accordingly to improve the welding process.
Um Bauteile vor Verschleiß und Korrosion zu schützen werden Beschichtungen aus resistenteren Materialien aufgetragen. Hierzu zählen unter anderen die Legierungen auf Cobalt-Chrom Basis. Der diskrete Materialsprung ist jedoch unter thermischen und mechanischen Belastungen häufig Ursache für das Versagen der Beschichtung. In dieser Arbeit werden daher Materialgradierungen von verschiedenen Stahllegierungen zu einer Cobalt-Chrom Basislegierung untersucht. Die Ergebnissen werden dafür auch mit Resultaten zu vorangegangenen Untersuchungen verglichen. Kern der Arbeit bilden geätzte Schliffbilder der Materialpaarungen und Auswertungen mittels Farbeindringprüfung sowie die metallografische Bestimmung der Porosität. Ziel der Arbeit ist ein defektfreier Aufbau der funktional gradierten Materialpaarungen.
Die Additive Fertigung gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung für die Verarbeitung von Kupferwerkstoffen im industriellen Umfeld. Hierbei wird verstärkt auf drahtförmige Ausgangswerkstoffe gesetzt, da diese Vorteile im Handling bieten, bereits aus der Schweißtechnik bekannt sind und sich zumeist durch geringere Beschaffungskosten auszeichnen. In den letzten Jahren entwickelte sich unter den drahtbasierten Verfahren der Directed-Energy-Deposition (DED) eine Prozessvariante unter Nutzung des Elektronenstrahls zur industriellen Marktreife. Dabei zeigt die Technologie Wire Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (DED-EB) besondere Vorteile gegenüber anderen DED-Prozessen für die Anwendung an Kupfer. Um das Verfahren einem breiten Anwenderkreis in der Industrie zugänglich zu machen, fehlen jedoch Daten zu Leistungsfähigkeit, Prozessgrenzen und Anwendungsmöglichkeit- en. Die vorliegende Untersuchung beschäftigt sich mit dieser Problemstellung am Beispiel der Legierung CuSn1MnSi. Über mehrstufige Testschweißungen werden die physikalisch möglichen Prozessgrenzen ermittelt und Rückschlüsse über die Eignung der Parameter zum additiven Aufbau gezogen. An verschiedenen additiv gefertigten Probekörpern werden anschließend Kennwerte für Aufbaurate, Härte, Mikrostruktur, Oberflächenqualität sowie mechanische Festigkeitswerte ermittelt. Es zeigt sich, dass das die durch DED-EB hergestellten Proben, trotz des groben Gefüges sowie der thermischen Belastung im Aufbauprozess, in ihren Eigenschaften gut mit den Spezifikationen des Ausgangsmaterials übereinstimmen.
In recent years, in addition to the commonly known wire-based processes of Directed Energy Deposition using lasers, a process variant using the electron beam has also developed to industrial market maturity. The process variant offers particular potential for processing highly conductive, reflective or oxidation-prone materials. However, for industrial usage, there is a lack of comprehensive data on performance, limitations and possible applications. The present study bridges the gap using the example of the high-strength aluminum bronze CuAl8Ni6. Multi-stage test welds are used to determine the limitations of the process and to draw conclusions about the suitability of the parameters for additive manufacturing. For this purpose, optimal ranges for energy input, possible welding speeds and the scalability of the process were investigated. Finally, additive test specimens in the form of cylinders and walls are produced, and the hardness profile, microstructure and mechanical properties are investigated. It is found that the material CuAl8Ni6 can be well processed using wire electron beam additive manufacturing. The microstructure is similar to a cast structure, the hardness profile over the height of the specimens is constant, and the tensile strength
and elongation at fracture values achieved the specification of the raw material.
Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the manufacturing industry, offering a new paradigm to produce complex geometries and parts with customized properties. Among the different AM techniques, the wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process has gained significant attention due to its high deposition rate and low equipment cost. However, the process is characterized by a complex thermal history, dynamic metallurgy, and mechanical behaviour that make it challenging to simulate it in real-time for online process control and optimization.
In this context, a reduced order model (ROM) using the proper generalized decomposition (PGD) method is proposed as a powerful tool to overcome the limitations of conventional numerical methods and enable the real-time simulation of the temperature field of WAAM processes. Though, the simulation of a moving heat source leads to a hardly separable parametric problem, which is handled by applying a novel mapping approach. Using this procedure, it is possible to create a simple separated representation of the model, also allowing to simulate multiple layers.
In this contribution, a PGD model is derived for the WAAM procedure simulating the temperature field. A good agreement with a standard finite element method is shown. The reduced model is further used in a stochastic model parameter estimation using Bayesian inference, speeding up calibrations and ultimately leading to a calibrated real-time simulation.
It is already known that the laser beam welding (LBW) or hybrid laser-arc welding (HLAW) processes are sensitive to manufacturing tolerances such as gaps and misalignment of the edges, especially at welding of thick-walled steels due to its narrow beam diameter. Therefore, the joining parts preferably have to be milled. The study deals with the influence of the edge quality, the gap and the misalignment of edges on the weld seam quality of hybrid laser-arc welded 20-mm-thick structural steel plates which were prepared by laser and plasma cutting. Single-pass welds were conducted in butt joint configuration. An AC magnet was used as a contactless backing. It was positioned under the workpiece during the welding process to prevent sagging. The profile of the edges and the gap between the workpieces were measured before welding by a profile scanner or a digital camera, respectively. With a laser beam power of just 13.7 kW, the single-pass welds could
be performed. A gap bridgeability up to 1 mm at laser-cut and 2 mm at plasma-cut samples could be reached respectively.
Furthermore, a misalignment of the edges up to 2 mm could be welded in a single pass. The new findings may eliminate the need for cost and time-consuming preparation of the edges.
The talk gives an introduction into gas metal arc welding and its relation to plasma science as well as current challenges in welding research concerning research data management and the application of the FAIR principles.
The WelDX project is introduced and the main goals are discussed and contrasted with the current features of the weldx API.
Different internal and public facing use cases focusing on research data management and their implementation using weldx are presented.
The interactive part of the presentation displays some advanced multi layer use cases and data analysis using the weldx API as well as the integration of materials properties into weldx.
Laser powder-based directed energy deposition (DED-L) is a technology that offers the possibility for 3D material deposition over hundreds of layers and has thus the potential for application in additive manufacturing (AM). However, to achieve broad industrial application as AM technology, more data and knowledge about the fabricated materials regarding the achieved properties and their relationship to the manufacturing process and the resulting microstructure is still needed. In this work, we present data regarding the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of Ti-6Al-4V. The material was fabricated using an optimized DED-L process. It features a low defect population and excellent tensile properties. To assess its LCF behavior two conventionally manufactured variants of the same alloy featuring different microstructures were additionally tested. The strain-controlled LCF tests were carried out in fully reversed mode with 0.3 % to 1.0 % axial strain amplitude from room temperature up to 400°C. The LCF behavior and failure mechanisms are described. For characterization, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro-computed tomography (µCT) were used. The low defect population allows for a better understanding of the intrinsic material’s properties and enables a fairer comparison against the conventional variants. The fatigue lifetimes of the DED-L material are nearly independent of the test temperature. At elevated test temperatures, they are similar or higher than the lifetimes of the conventional counterparts. At room temperature, they are only surpassed by the lifetimes of one of them. The principal failure mechanism involves multiple crack initiation sites.
Die vorliegende Untersuchung befasst sich mit dem Einfluss des Additive Manufacturing auf die Schweißeignung von Bauteilen aus Inconel 718. Hierfür wurden Proben mittels DED und L-PBF hergestellt und ihr Verhalten in Blindschweißversuchen anhand eines Vergleichs mit konventionellen Gussblechen untersucht. Im zweiten Schritt wurden die verschiedenen additiv hergestellten Proben mit dem Gussmaterial im I-Stoß sowie untereinander verschweißt.
Als Schweißverfahren wurde für alle Proben das Elektronenstrahlschweißen angewandt. Zur Auswertung wurde anhand von Schliffen das Nahtprofil vermessen und die Proben auf Poren und Risse untersucht. Zusätzlich wurde die Dichte vermessen und eine Prüfung auf Oberflächenrisse durchgeführt. Das AM-Material zeigte dabei Unterschiede in Nahtform und Defektneigung im Vergleich zum Gusswerkstoff. Insbesondere die DED-proben neigten unter bestimmten Parameterkonstellationen verstärkt zu Porenbildung. Risse konnten nicht beobachtet werden. Trotz auftretender Nahtunregelmäßigkeiten wurde in den kombinierten AM-Schweißproben die Bewertungsgruppe C erreicht. Eine Prüfung der bestehenden Regelwerke zur Schweißnahtbewertung anhand der gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zu additiv gefertigten Proben im Elektronenstrahlschweißprozess zeigte keinen Ergänzungsbedarf.
An accurate and efficient description of the spatial distribution of laser energy is a crucial factor for the modeling of laser material processing, e.g., laser welding, laser cutting, or laser-based additive manufacturing. In this study, a 3D heat transfer and fluid flow model coupled with the volume-of-fluid algorithm for free surface tracking is developed for the simulation of molten pool dynamics in high-power laser beam welding. The underlying laser-material interactions, i.e., the multiple reflections and Fresnel absorption, are considered by a raytracing method. Two strategies of free surface reconstruction used in the ray-tracing method are investigated: a typical piecewise linear interface calculation (PLIC)-based method and a novel localized level-set method. The PLIC-based method is discrete, resulting in noncontinuous free surface reconstruction. In the localized level-set method, a continuous free surface is reconstructed, and, thus, the exact reflection points can be determined. The calculated spatial laser energy distribution and the corresponding molten pool dynamics from the two methods are analyzed and compared. The obtained numerical results are evaluated with experimental measurements to assure the validity of the proposed model. It is found that distinct patterns of the beam multiple reflections are obtained with the different free surface reconstructions, which shows significant influence not only on the molten pool behaviors but also on the localized keyhole dynamics.
Directed energy deposition (DED) has been in industrial use as a coating process for many years. Modern applications include the repair of existing components and additive manufacturing. The main advantages of DED are high deposition rates and low energy input. However, the process is influenced by a variety of parameters affecting the component quality. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) offer the possibility of mapping complex processes such as DED. They can serve as a tool for predicting optimal process parameters and quality characteristics. Previous research only refers to weld beads: a transferability to additively manufactured three-dimensional components has not been investigated. In the context of this work, an ANN is generated based on 86 weld beads. Quality categories (poor, medium, and good) are chosen as target variables to combine several quality features. The applicability of this categorization compared to conventional characteristics is discussed in detail. The ANN predicts the quality category of weld beads with an average accuracy of 81.5%. Two randomly generated parameter sets predicted as “good” by the network are then used to build tracks, coatings,walls, and cubes. It is shown that ANN trained with weld beads are suitable for complex parameter predictions in a limited way.
Prognose von Qualitätsmerkmalen durch Anwendung von KI-Methoden beim Directed 10 Energy Deposition
(2022)
Dieser Beitrag enthält die Ergebnisse eines im Rahmen der DVS Forschung entwickelten Ansatzes zur Qualitätssicherung im Directed Energy Deposition. Es basiert auf der Verarbeitung verschiedener während des Prozesses gesammelter Sensordaten unter Anwendung Künstlicher Neuronale Netze (KNN). So ließen sich die Qualitätsmerkmale Härte und Dichte auf der Datenbasis von 50 additiv gefertigten Probenwürfel mit einer Abweichung < 2 % vorhersagen. Des Weiteren wurde die Übertragbarkeit des KNN auf eine Schaufelgeometrie untersucht. Auch hier ließen sich Härte und Dichte hervorragend prognostizieren (Abweichung < 1,5 %), sodass der Ansatz als validiert betrachtet werden kann.
Untersuchung zur Herstellung von Cu-Strukturen mittels Wire Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing
(2022)
Das Additive Manufacturing gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung für die Fertigung metallischer Bauteile im industriellen Umfeld. Hierbei wird zunehmend auch auf drahtförmige Ausgangswerkstoffe gesetzt, da diese Vorteile im Handling bieten, bereits in der Industrie etabliert sind und sich in der Regel durch geringere Beschaffungskosten auszeichnen. In den letzten Jahren entwickelte sich neben den bereits im großen Umfeld untersuchten Wire-DED-Verfahren auch eine Prozessvariante unter Nutzung des Elektronenstrahls zur industriellen Marktreife. Dabei zeigt die als Wire Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing bezeichnete Technologie besondere Vorteile gegenüber anderen, zumeist Laser- oder Lichtbogen-basierten DED-Prozessen. Das Verfahren bietet vor allem Potenzial für die Verarbeitung von hochleitfähigen, reflektierenden oder oxidationsgefährdeten Werkstoffen. Insbesondere für die Herstellung von Bauteilen aus Kupferlegierungen zeigt sich der Elektronenstrahl als besonders geeignet. Um das Verfahren einem breiten Anwenderkreis in der Industrie zugänglich zu machen, fehlen jedoch übergreifende Daten zu Leistungsfähigkeit, Prozessgrenzen und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten. Die vorliegende Untersuchung beschäftigt sich mit dieser Problemstellung am Beispiel zweier Cu-Werkstoffe. Dabei werden ein korrosionsbeständiger Werkstoff aus dem maritimen Bereich sowie eine Bronze mit guten Verschleißeigenschaften aus dem Anlagenbau getestet.
Über mehrstufige Testschweißungen wurden die physikalisch möglichen Prozessgrenzen ermittelt und Rückschlüsse über die Eignung der Parameter zum additiven Aufbau gezogen. Hierfür wurden zunächst optimale Bereiche für den Energieeintrag anhand von Volumenenergie sowie mögliche Schweißgeschwindigkeiten untersucht.
Anschließend wurde die Skalierbarkeit des Prozesses anhand von Strahlstrom und Drahtvorschub getestet.
Als wesentliche Zielgrößen wurden dabei Spurgeometrie, Aufmischung und Härte herangezogen. Die Eignung der ermittelten Parameter wurde im letzten Schritt exemplarisch anhand einer additiven Testgeometrie in Form eines Zylinders nachgewiesen.
Motivated by the loss of tensile strength in 9%Ni steel arc-welded joints performed using commercially available Ni-based austenitic filler metals, the viability of retaining tensile strength using an experimentally produced matching ferritic filler metal was confirmed. Compared to the austenitic Ni-based filler metal (685 MPa), higher tensile strength in gas metal arc (GMA) welded joints was achieved using a ferritic filler metal (749 MPa) due to its microstructure being similar to the base metal (645 MPa). The microstructure of hard martensite resulted in an impact energy of 71 J (-196 °C), which was two times higher than the specified minimum value of _>34 J. The
tensile and impact strength of the welded joint is affected not only by its microstructure, but also by the degree of its mechanical mismatch depending on the type of filler metal. Welds with a harder microstructure and less mechanical mismatch are important for achieving an adequate combination of tensile strength and notched impact strength. This is achievable with the cost-effective ferritic filler metal. A more desirable combination of mechanical properties is guaranteed by applying low preheating temperature (200 °C), which is a more practicable and economical solution compared to the high post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) temperature (580 °C) suggested by other research.
Characterization of Ti-6Al-4V fabricated by multilayer laser powder-based directed energy deposition
(2022)
Laser powder-based directed energy deposition (DED-L) is increasingly being used in additive manufacturing (AM). As AM technology, DED-L must consider specific challenges. It must achieve uniform volume growth over hundreds of layers and avoid heat buildup of the deposited material. Herein, Ti–6Al–4V is fabricated using an approach that addresses these challenges and is relevant in terms of transferability to DED–L applications in AM. The assessment of the obtained properties and the discussion of their relationship to the process conditions and resulting microstructure are presented. The quality of the manufacturing process is proven in terms of the reproducibility of properties between individual blanks and with respect to the building height. The characterization demonstrates that excellent mechanical properties are achieved at room temperature and at 400 °C.
An accurate and efficient description of the spatial distribution of laser energy is a crucial factor for the modeling of laser material processing, e.g., laser welding, laser cutting, or laser-based additive manufacturing. In this study, a 3D heat transfer and fluid flow model coupled with the volume-of-fluid algorithm for free surface tracking is developed for the simulation of molten pool dynamics in high-power laser beam welding. The underlying laser-material interactions, i.e., the multiple reflections and Fresnel absorption, are considered by a ray-tracing method. Two strategies of free surface reconstruction used in the ray-tracing method are investigated: a typical piecewise linear interface calculation (PLIC)-based method and a novel localized Level-Set method. The PLIC-based method is discrete, resulting in non-continuous free surface reconstruction. In the localized Level-Set method, a continuous free surface is reconstructed, and thus the exact reflection points can be determined. The calculated spatial laser energy distribution and the corresponding molten pool dynamics from the two methods are analyzed and compared. The obtained numerical results are evaluated with experimental measurements to assure the validity of the proposed model. It is found that distinct patterns of the beam multiple reflections are obtained with the different free surface reconstructions, which shows significant influence not only on the molten pool behaviors but also on the localized keyhole dynamics.
Numerical analysis of ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding of dissimilar Al/Mg alloys
(2022)
The ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding (UVeFSW) process has unique advantages in joining dissimilar Al/Mg alloys. While there are complex coupling mechanisms of multi-fields in the process, it is of great significance to model this process, to reveal the influence mechanism of ultrasonic vibration on the formation of Al/Mg joints.
In this study, the acoustic-plastic constitutive equation was established by considering the influence of both ultrasonic softening and residual hardening on the flow stress at different temperatures and strain rates. And the ultrasonic induced friction reduction (UiFR) effect on friction coefficient in different relative directions at the FSW tool-workpiece interface was quantitatively calculated and analyzed.
The Al/Mg UVeFSW process model was developed through introducing the above acoustic effects into the model of Al/Mg friction stir welding (FSW). The ultrasonic energy is stronger on the aluminum alloy side. In the stirred zone, there is the pattern distribution of ultrasonic sound pressure and energy. The heat generation at the tool-workpiece contact interface and viscous dissipation were reduced after applying ultrasonic vi-bration. Due to the UiFR effect, the projection of friction coefficient and heat flux distributions at the tool-workpiece interface present a "deformed" butterfly shape. The calculated results show that ultrasonic vibration enhanced the material flow and promoted the mixing of dissimilar materials.
-With modern high-power lasers (and vacuum) penetration around 100 mm is possible
-Important for industrial applications: single-pass full penetration welds with tolerances
-Contactless EM-backing helps to overcome many main restrictions:
-Single-pass HLAW of up to 30 mm can be realized with 20 kW laser power
-Increase of the gap bridgeability and misalignement of edges
-Lower sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances and edge quality; samples can be prepared by a plasma-cut instead of time-consuming milling process
-Gives the possibility to increase the welding parameter window and cooling rate so that the required mechanical properties can be reached
-Improved filler wire mixing behaviour
Diese Arbeit zeigt erstmals die Anwendung einer elektromagnetischen Schmelzbadstütze beim einlagigen MSG-Schweißen von dickwandigen Stählen. Die innovativen Entwicklungen im Bereich des Lichtbogenschweißverfahrens ermöglichen eine Erhöhung der Abschmelzleistung, um die Einschweißtiefe zu steigern. Somit kann die Lagenanzahl reduziert und die Produktivität gesteigert werden. Allerdings besteht insbesondere beim einlagigen Schweißen von dickwandigen Bauteilen in PA-Position ein erhöhtes Risiko für das gravitationsbedingte Austropfen der Schmelze an der Wurzel. Zur Verhinderung werden Badstützen eingesetzt, die mechanisch angebracht und nach dem Schweißen entfernt werden müssen, was zeit- und kostenintensiv ist.
Die im Rahmen dieser Studie eingesetzte elektromagnetische Schmelzbadstütze wirkt dem gravitationsbedingten Austropfen der Schmelze entgegen und kompensiert den hydrostatischen Druck. Sie wirkt kontaktlos, was im Gegensatz zu herkömmlichen Badstützen vorteilhaft ist, so dass auf eine zeit- und kostenintensive Nachbearbeitung der Schweißnahtwurzel verzichtet werden kann. Das auf extern angelegten oszillierenden Magnetfeldern beruhende Verfahren wird dabei unterhalb des zu schweißenden Bauteils positioniert. Die Magnetfeldlinien sind quer zur Schweißrichtung ausgerichtet, sodass längs zur Schweißrichtung Wirbelströme im Werkstück und eine stets nach oben gerichtete Lorentzkraft generiert werden. Mit Hilfe der elektromagnetischen Badstütze konnten beim einlagigen MSG-Schweißen von 8 mm bis 12 mm die Tropfenbildung vermieden werden. Die innovative Technologie ermöglicht es dickwandige Bauteile einlagig zu schweißen und reduziert die Nachbearbeitungszeit deutlich.
The study deals with the influence of the heat input and the resulting cooling times on the microstructure and Charpy impact toughness of single-pass laser hybrid welded 20-mm thick high-strength steel S690QL. The main focus is on the change of the mechanical properties over the entire seam thickness. The cooling times were measured in-situ using a pyrometer and an optical fibre in three different depths of the seam where Charpy impact test specimens were also later taken. Thereby, three different heat inputs from 1.3 kJ/mm to 2 kJ/mm were investigated. Despite the observed decreased values of both t8/5-cooling time and the Charpy impact toughness in the root part of the seam, the required impact toughness of 38 J/cm2 could be reached in dependance on applied heat input, especially at the heat input of 1.6 kJ/mm.
Diese Arbeit zeigt erstmals die Anwendung einer elektromagnetischen Schmelzbadsicherung beim einlagigen MSG-Schweißen von dickwandigen Stählen. Die innovativen Entwicklungen im Bereich des Lichtbogenschweißverfahrens ermöglichen eine Erhöhung der Abschmelzleistung, um die Einschweißtiefe zu steigern. Somit kann die Lagenanzahl reduziert und die Produktivität gesteigert werden. Allerdings besteht insbesondere beim einlagigen Schweißen von dickwandigen Bauteilen in PA-Position ein erhöhtes Risiko für das gravitationsbedingte Austropfen der Schmelze an der Wurzel. Zur Verhinderung werden Badsicherungen eingesetzt, die mechanisch angebracht und nach dem Schweißen entfernt werden müssen, was zeit- und kostenintensiv ist.
Die im Rahmen dieser Studie eingesetzte elektromagnetische Schmelzbadsicherung wirkt dem gravitationsbedingten Austropfen der Schmelze entgegen und kompensiert den hydrostatischen Druck. Sie wirkt kontaktlos, was im Gegensatz zu herkömmlichen Badsicherungen vorteilhaft ist, so dass auf eine zeit- und kostenintensive Nachbearbeitung der Schweißnahtwurzel verzichtet werden kann. Das auf extern angelegten oszillierenden Magnetfeldern beruhende Verfahren wird dabei unterhalb des zu schweißenden Bauteils positioniert. Die Magnetfeldlinien sind quer zur Schweißrichtung ausgerichtet, sodass längs zur Schweißrichtung Wirbelströme im Werkstück und eine stets nach oben gerichtete Lorentzkraft generiert werden. Mit Hilfe der elektromagnetischen Badsicherung konnten beim einlagigen MSG-Schweißen von bis zu 10 mm dicken Blechen die Tropfenbildung vermieden werden. Die innovative Technologie ermöglicht es, dickwandige Bauteile einlagig zu schweißen und reduziert die Nachbearbeitungszeiten und -kosten deutlich.
Laserstrahlhybridschweissen von Türmen für Windkraftanlagen Ökonomische und ökologische Vorteile
(2022)
Das Laserstrahlhybridschweißen ist beim Schweißen von Türmen für Windkraftanlagen eine Alternative zum Unterpulverschweißen von Dickblechen in Mehrlagentechnik und bietet hier ökonomische und ökologische Vorteile. Der industrielle Einsatz des Verfahrens ist jedoch durch prozessspezifische Herausforderungen eingeschränkt. Die im Beitrag beschriebene kontaktlose elektromagnetische Badstütze dient zur Erweiterung des Verfahrenspotenzials im Dickblechbereich >15 mm.
The study deals with the influence of the heat input and the resulting cooling times on the microstructure and Charpy impact toughness of single-pass laser hybrid welded 20-mm thick high-strength steel S690QL. The main focus is on the change of the mechanical properties over the entire seam thickness. The cooling times were measured in-situ using a pyrometer and an optical fibre in three different depths of the seam where Charpy impact test specimens were also later taken. Thereby, three different heat inputs from 1.3 kJ/mm to 2 kJ/mm were investigated. Despite the observed decreased values of both t8/5-cooling time and the Charpy impact toughness in the root part of the seam, the required impact toughness of 38 J/cm2 could be reached in dependance on applied heat input, especially at the heat input of 1.6 kJ/mm.
With additive manufacturing in the powder bed, the component size is limited by the installation space. Joint welding of additively manufactured parts offers a possibility to remove this size limitation. However, due to the specific stress and microstructure state in the additively built material, it is unclear to what extent existing evaluation rules of joint welding are also suitable for welds on additive components. This is investigated using laser beam welding of additively manufactured pipe joints. The welds are evaluated by means of visual inspection, metallographic examinations as well as computed tomography. The types of defects found are comparable to conventional components. This is an indicator that existing evaluation regulations also map the possible defects occurring for weld seams on additive components.
Die technischen Entwicklungen in der Lasertechnologie in den letzten Jahrzehnten haben eine neue Generation von Hochleistungslasersystemen im Leistungsbereich bis zu 100 kW auf den Markt gebracht. Dennoch ist die industrielle Anwendung des Hochleistungslaserstrahlschweißens auf bis zu 15 mm dicke Bleche beschränkt. Mögliche Ursachen der Einschränkungen des Verfahrens sind z.B. die Sensibilität des Verfahrens auf Fertigungstoleranzen wie Spalt und Kantenversatz, die erhöhte Tropfenbildung bei höheren Blechdicken und eine inhomogene Verteilung des Zusatzwerkstoffes beim Laserhybridschweißen. In dieser Studie wird ein auf extern angelegte Magnetfelder basierte elektromagnetische Schmelzbadstütze eingesetzt, um die Grenzen des Verfahrens zu erweitern und die Herausforderungen zu minimieren. Der wesentliche Vorteil der elektromagnetischen Schmelzbadstütze ist, dass sie berührungslos arbeitet. Mit Hilfe der elektromagnetischen Schmelzbadstütze konnten bei 20 mm dicken Proben aus S355J2 die Tropfenbildung an der Wurzel vermieden werden. Zudem wurde der Einfluss der Kantenqualität auf die Schweißnahtqualität untersucht, wobei verschiedene Schneidverfahren zur Kantenvorbereitung eingesetzt wurden, wie z.B. Plasma-, Brenn- oder Laserschneiden. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass auch bei schlechteren Kantenvorbereitung im Gegensatz zu gefrästen Bauteilen die Werkstoffe einlagig mittels Laserhybridschweißen bei einer hohen Schweißnahtqualität gefügt werden konnten. Bei plasmageschnittenen Proben wurden zudem eine Spaltüberbrückbarkeit bzw. Kantenversatz von bis zu 2 mm sicher überbrückt. Des Weiteren war es mit Hilfe der externen Magnetfelder möglich, die Durchmischung des Zusatzwerkstoffes über die gesamte Schweißnahttiefe deutlich zu homogenisieren.
Solidification cracking is still a serious problem in laser beam welding, especially in the welding of thick-walled plates. The influence of weld pool geometry on solidification cracking in partial penetration welding of thick plates is investigated within scope of this study. Therefore, a specific experimental setup of steel and quartz glass in butt configuration and on the side with high-speed camera were used to record the weld pool shape. In addition, the influence of laser inclination angle on the weld pool geometry and on solidification crack formation was investigated. The results show a bulge in the weld pool root, which is separated from an upper region by a necking region. This leads to a case where there are three different longitudinal region lengths with different solidification zones. This temporal sequence of solidification strongly promotes the formation of solidification cracks in the weld root.
Solidification cracking is still a serious problem in laser beam welding, especially in the welding of thick-walled plates. The influence of weld pool geometry on solidification cracking in partial penetration welding of thick plates is investigated within scope of this study. Therefore, a specific experimental setup of steel and quartz glass in butt configuration and on the side with high-speed camera were used to record the weld pool shape. In addition, the influence of laser inclination angle on the weld pool geometry and on solidification crack formation was investigated. The results show a bulge in the weld pool root, which is separated from an upper region by a necking region. This leads to a case where there are three different longitudinal region lengths with different solidification zones. This temporal sequence of solidification strongly promotes the formation of solidification cracks in the weld root.
The contactless magnetohydrodynamic technology has been considered as a potential and promising method to improve the weld qualities of deep penetration laser beam welding. In this paper, numerical investigations are conducted to study the influence of the auxiliary oscillating magnetic field on the porosity suppression in laser beam welding of 5754 aluminum alloy. To obtain a deeper insight into the suppression mechanism, a three-dimensional transient multi-physical model is developed to calculate the heat transfer, fluid flow, keyhole dynamic, and magnetohydrodynamics. A ray tracing algorithm is employed to calculate the laser energy distribution on the keyhole wall. A time-averaged downward Lorentz force is produced by an oscillating magnetic field. This force acts in the molten pool, leading to a dominant downward flow motion in the longitudinal section, which blocks the bubble migration from the keyhole tip to the rear part of the molten pool. Therefore, the possibility for the bubbles to be captured by the solidification front is reduced. The electromagnetic expulsive force provides an additional upward escaping speed for the bubbles of 1 m/s ~ 5 m/s in the lower and middle region of the molten pool. The simulation results are in a good agreement with experimental measurements. Based on the results obtained in this study, a better understanding of the underlying physics in laser beam welding enhanced by an auxiliary oscillating magnetic field can be provided and thus the welding process can be further optimized reducing the porosity formation.
This study presents mechanisms of the evolution of a narrowed region in the weld pool center during deep penetration laser beam welding. In numerous numerical studies presented in this study, it was also found that the local reduction of the weld pool size can cause detrimental effects on the melt flow behavior and the resulting properties of the welds. A particularly large influence of this effect was identified in three aspects. First, the local variation of the solidification sequence of the weld pool causes an increase in the hotcracking susceptibility due to a locally delayed solidification. Second, it was proven that a change in the local length and width of the weld pool is associated with an adverse impact on the potential flow routes of the molten material that induces stronger local variations of its solidification. Thus, the element mixing, e.g., during the welding with filler materials, is blocked. This leads to a nonhomogeneous chemical composition of the final weld and can cause undesired effects on the final material properties. Finally, another observed effect is related to the reduced ability of process pores to reach the top surface. As this type of porosity is usually produced around the keyhole tip, the change of the fluid flow regime above this area plays a significant role in determining the final path of the pores until the premature solidification in the middle of the weld pool captures them. This study summarizes mainly numerical results that were supported by selected experimental validation results.
This study presents mechanisms of the evolution of a narrowed region in the weld pool center during deep penetration laser beam welding. In numerous numerical studies presented in this study, it was also found that the local reduction of the weld pool size can cause detrimental effects on the melt flow behavior and the resulting properties of the welds. A particularly large influence of this effect was identified in three aspects. Firstly, the local variation of the solidification sequence of the weld pool causes an increase in the hot-cracking susceptibility due to a locally delayed solidification. Secondly, it was proven that a change in the local length and width of the weld pool is associated with an adverse impact on the potential flow routes of the molten material that induces stronger local variations of its solidification. Thus, the element mixing, e.g. during the welding with filler materials, is blocked. This leads to a non-homogeneous chemical composition of the final weld and can cause undesired effects on the final material properties. Finally, another observed effect is related to the reduced ability of process pores to reach the top surface. As this type of porosity is usually produced around the keyhole tip, the change of the fluid flow regime above this area plays a significant role in determining the final path of the pores until the premature solidification in the middle of the weld pool captures them. This study summarizes mainly numerical results which were supported by selected experimental validation results.
An accurate and efficient description of the spatial distribution of laser energy is a crucial factor for the modeling of laser material processing, e.g., laser welding, laser cutting, or laser-based additive manufacturing. In this study, a 3D heat transfer and fluid flow model coupled with the volume-of-fluid algorithm for free surface tracking is developed for the simulation of molten pool dynamics in high-power laser beam welding. The underlying laser-material interactions, i.e., the multiple reflections and Fresnel absorption, are considered by a ray-tracing method. Two strategies of free surface reconstruction used in the ray-tracing method are investigated: a typical piecewise linear interface calculation (PLIC)-based method and a novel localized Level-Set method. The PLIC-based method is discrete, resulting in non-continuous free surface reconstruction. In the localized Level-Set method, a continuous free surface is reconstructed, and thus the exact reflection points can be determined. The calculated spatial laser energy distribution and the corresponding molten pool dynamics from the two methods are analyzed and compared. The obtained numerical results are evaluated with experimental measurements to assure the validity of the proposed model. It is found that distinct patterns of the beam multiple reflections are obtained with the different free surface reconstructions, which shows significant influence not only on the molten pool behaviors but also on the localized keyhole dynamics.
Das Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) ist dank hoher erreichbarer Aufbauraten prädestiniert für die Fertigung großvolumiger Bauteile. Dabei ist auf die Wirkmechanismen zwischen Prozessparametern und den daraus resultierenden mechanisch-technologischen Eigenschaften zu achten. Dies gilt insbesondere für die Fertigung dickwandiger Bauteile aus Al-Mg-Si-Aluminiumlegierungen, die eine hohe Anfälligkeit gegenüber Erstarrungsrissen und wasserstoffinduzierter Porosität aufweisen. Der Einfluss der Prozessparameter und des resultierenden Temperaturregimes auf die Bauteilqualität wurde durch die Analyse der Größe und Verteilung von Poren sowie der resultierenden Festigkeit untersucht. Darüber hinaus wurde der Einfluss einer Wärmenachbehandlungsstrategien auf das Festigkeitsverhalten analysiert.
Die lichtbogenbasierte, additive Fertigung ist dank hoher erreichbarer Aufbauraten und nahezu uneingeschränktem Bauraum zur Fertigung großvolumiger Bauteile prädestiniert. Die Kombination etablierter Maschinenkomponenten aus Robotertechnik, Schweißtechnik und Sensorik ermöglicht den präzisen schichtweisen Materialauftrag. Die Wirkmechanismen zwischen Prozessparametern und den daraus resultierenden mechanisch-technologischen Eigenschaften der additiv gefertigten Bauteile stellen eine Herausforderung dar. Dies gilt insbesondere auch für dickwandige Bauteile. Bei der Fertigung von Bauteilen aus höherfesten Al-Mg-Si-Aluminiumlegierungen ist aufgrund der hohen Anfälligkeit für Erstarrungsrisse und der Neigung zu wasserstoffinduzierter Porosität im besonderen Maße auf das Temperaturregime und die gewählte Aufbaustrategie zu achten.
Der Einfluss der Prozessparameter auf die Bauteilqualität wurde durch die Analyse der Größe und Verteilung von Poren sowie der resultierenden Festigkeit untersucht. Darüber hinaus wurde der Einfluss einer Wärmenachbehandlungsstrategien auf das Festigkeitsverhalten analysiert. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass dickwandige Strukturen aus höherfesten Al-Mg-Si-Aluminiumlegierungen mit mechanischen Kennwerten im Bereich des Referenzmaterials mittels MSGLichtbogenverfahren additiv gefertigt werden können.
Study on the transition behavior of the bulging effect during deep penetration laser beam welding
(2022)
The present work is devoted to the study of the transition behavior of the recently confirmed widening of the weld pool, known as the bulging effect, during high-power deep penetration laser beam welding of thick unalloyed steel sheets. A three-dimensional transient multi-physics numerical model is developed, allowing for the prediction of the bulge formation and the study of its temporal behavior. The model is generalized to account automatically for the transition from partial to complete penetration. Several experimental measurements and observations, such as drilling period, weld pool length, temperature, efficiency, and metallographic cross-sections are used to verify the model and assure the plausibility of the numerical results. The analysis of the calculated temperature and velocity distributions, as well as the evolution of the keyhole geometry, shows that the formation of a bulging region strongly depends on the penetration depth of the weld. Based on the numerical results, the bulge is found to occur transiently, having its transition from a slight bulge to a fully developed bulging between penetration depths of 6 mm and 9 mm, respectively.
Duplex stainless steels combine the positive properties of its two phases, austenite and ferrite. Due to its good corrosion resistance, high tensile strength, and good ductility, it has multiple applications. But laser beam welding of duplex steels changes the balanced phase distribution in favor of ferrite. This results in a higher vulnerability to corrosion and a lower ductility. Herein, different powder combinations consisting of duplex and nickel for coating layers by laser metal deposition (LMD) are investigated. Afterward, laser tracks are welded, and the temperature cycles are measured. The ferrite content of the tracks is analyzed by feritscope, metallographic analysis, and electron backscatter diffraction. The goal is the development of a powder mixture allowing for a duplex microstructure in a two-step process, where first the edges of the weld partners are coated with the powder mixture by LMD and second those edges are laser beam welded. The powder mixture identified by the pretests is tested in the two-step process and analyzed by metallographic analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and
Vickers hardness tests. The resulting weld seams show a balanced duplex microstructure with a homogenous nickel distribution and a hardness of the weld seam similar to the base material.
The Directed Energy Deposition process is used in a wide range of applications including the repair, coating or modification of existing structures and the additive manufacturing of individual parts. As the process is frequently applied in the aerospace industry, the requirements for quality assurance are extremely high. Therefore, more and more sensor systems are being implemented for process monitoring. To evaluate the generated data, suitable methods must be developed. A solution, in this context, was the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs). This article demonstrates how measurement data can be used as input data for ANNs. The measurement data were generated using a pyrometer, an emission spectrometer, a camera (Charge-Coupled Device) and a laser scanner. First, a concept for the extraction of relevant features from dynamic measurement data series was presented. The developed method was then applied to generate a data set for the
quality prediction of various geometries, including weld beads, coatings and cubes. The results were compared to ANNs trained with process parameters such as laser power, scan speed and powder mass flow. It was shown that the use of measurement data provides additional value. Neural networks trained with measurement data achieve significantly higher prediction accuracy, especially for more complex geometries.
size limitations and high production costs of L-PBF make it competitive for smaller, highly complex components, while the less complex elements of an assembly are manufactured conventionally. This leads to scenarios that use L-PBF only where it’s beneficial, and it require an integration and joining to form the final product. For example, L-PBF combustion swirlers are welded onto cast parts to produce combustion systems for stationary gas turbines. Today, the welding process requires complex welding fixtures and tack welds to ensure the correct alignment and positioning of the parts for repeatable weld results. In this paper, L-PBF and milled weld preparations are presented as a way to simplify the Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding of rotationally symmetrical geometries using integrated features for alignment and fixation. Pipe specimens with the proposed designs are manufactured in Inconel 625 using L-PBF and milling. The pipe assembly is tested and TIG welding is performed for validation. 3D scans of the pipes before and after welding are evaluated, and the weld quality is examined via metallography and computed tomography (CT) scans. All welds produced in this study passed the highest evaluation group B according to DIN 5817. Thanks to good component alignment, safe handling, and a stable welding process, the developed designs eliminate the need for part-specific fixtures, simplify the process chain, and increase the process reliability. The results are applicable to a wide range of components with similar requirements.
Ensuring the required mechanical-technological properties of welds is a critical issue in the application of multi-wire submerged arc welding processes for welding high-strength fine-grained steels. Excessive heat input is one of the main causes for microstructural zones with deteriorated mechanical properties of the welded joint, such as a reduced notched impact strength and a lower structural robustness. A process variant is proposed which reduces the weld volume as well as the heat input by adjusting the welding wire configuration as well as the energetic parameters of the arcs, while retaining the advantages of multiwire submerged arc welding such as high process stability and production speed.
The present work seeks to extend the level of understanding of the stress field evolution during direct laser deposition (DLD) of a 3.2 mm thick multilayer wall of Ti-6Al-4V alloy by theoretical and experimental studies. The process conditions were close to the conditions used to produce large-sized structures by the DLD method, resulting in specimens having the same thermal history. A simulation procedure based on the implicit finite element method was developed for the theoretical study of the stress field evolution. The accuracy of the simulation was significantly improved by using experimentally obtained temperature-dependent mechanical properties of the DLD-processed Ti-6Al4V alloy. The residual stress field in the buildup was experimentally measured by neutron diffraction. The stress-free lattice parameter, which is decisive for the measured stresses, was determined using both a plane stress approach and a force-momentum balance. The influence of the inhomogeneity of the residual stress field on the accuracy of the experimental measurement and the validation of the simulation procedure are analyzed and discussed. Based on the numerical results it was found that the non-uniformity of the through-thickness stress distribution reaches a maximum in the central cross-section, while at the buildup ends the stresses are distributed almost uniformly. The components of the principal stresses are tensile at the buildup ends near the substrate. Furthermore, the calculated equivalent plastic strain reaches 5.9% near the buildup end, where the deposited layers are completed, while the plastic strain is practically equal to the experimentally measured ductility of the DLD-processed alloy, which is 6.2%. The experimentally measured residual stresses obtained by the force-momentum balance and the plane stress approach differ slightly from each other.
The study deals with the determination of the influence of an externally applied oscillating magnetic field on the melt pool dynamics in high power laser beam and hybrid laser arc welding processes. An AC magnet was positioned under the workpiece which is generating an upward directed electromagnetic force to counteract the formation of the droplets. To visualise the melt flow characteristics, several experiments were carried out using a special technique with mild steel from S355J2 with a wall thickness of up to 20 mm and a quartz glass in butt configuration. The profile of the keyhole and the melt flow were recorded with a high-speed camera from the glass side. Additionally, the influence of the magnetic field orientation to the welding direction on the filler material dilution on laser hybrid welding was studied with variating oscillation frequency. The element distribution over the whole seam thickness was measured with X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The oscillation frequency demonstrated a greater influence on the melt pool dynamics and the mixing of the elements of the filler wire. The high-speed recordings showed, under the influence of the magnetic field, that the melt is affected under strong vortex at the weld root, which also avoids the formation of droplets
Herein, an improved ray-tracing routine using a virtual mesh refinement approach is adopted in a 3D transientmultiphysics computational fluid Dynamics model for deep penetration wire feed laser beam welding. In a previous study, it was shown that the improved localization of the reflection points of the subrays within the keyhole leads to a more realistic development of the keyhole Depth being validated with experimental results. Another effect investigated in Detail herein is a drastic change in the flow behavior in the weld pool, which promotes the occurrence of a necking area in the solidification line and subsequent bulging under specific circumstances. This has a detrimental effect on the filler material element transport in the weld pool, leading to an inhomogeneous dilution of the added material. The numerical observations are backed up by experimentally obtained data, allowing to provide a clear physics-based explanation of the reduced mixing behavior of the filler wire in the melt pool.
The present work deals with the recently confirmed widening of the weld pool interface, known as a bulging effect, and its relevance in high power laser beam welding. A combined experimental and numerical approach is utilized to study the influence of the bulge on the hot cracking formation and the transport of alloying elements in the molten pool. A technique using a quartz glass, a direct-diode laser illumination, a high speed camera, and two thermal imaging cameras is applied to visualize the weld pool geometry in the longitudinal section. The study examines the relevance of the bulging effect on both, partial and complete penetration, as well as for different sheet thicknesses ranging from 8 mm to 25 mm. The numerical analysis shows that the formation of a bulge region is highly dependent on the penetration depth and occurs above 10 mm penetration depth. The location of the bulge correlates strongly with the cracking location. The obtained experimental and numerical results reveal that the bulging effect increases the hot cracking susceptibility and limits the transfer of alloying elements from the top of the weld pool to the weld root
The weld quality and the possible defect formation are directly determined by the weld pool shape and the thermo-fluid dynamics therein. In this paper, an untypical weld pool profile, i.e., elongated at its top and bottom but narrowed at the middle, is found experimentally and numerically in the wire feed laser beam welding. The detrimental influence of the weld pool narrowing on the element transport is analyzed and discussed. A magnetohydrodynamic technique is utilized to suppress the narrowing, aiming at a more homogenous element distribution. It is found that a low-temperature region is formed in the middle of the weld pool due to the interaction of the two dominant circulations from the top and bottom regions. The weld pool is significantly narrowed due to the untypical growth of the mushy zone in the low-temperature region, which results in a direct blocking effect on the downward flow and the premature solidification in the middle region. The Lorentz force produced by a transverse oscillating magnetic field shows the potential to change the flow pattern into a single-circulation type and the low-temperature-gradient region is mitigated. Therefore, the downward transfer channel is widened, and its premature solidification is prevented. The numerical results are well validated by experimental measurements of metal/glass observation and X-ray fluorescence element mapping.
The macro and micro benefits from a magnetic field have been well recognized in the laser beam welding, but the influence mechanism, especially on the local keyhole dynamics, is yet not fully understood. A combination of experimental approach and numerical modeling was conducted to study the highly transient keyhole dynamics under the magnetic field. It was found that the magnetic field gave a direct impact on the laser energy absorption at the keyhole front wall. The keyhole-induced porosity was suppressed under the influence of the magnetic field, which was confirmed by the micro-X-ray computed tomography. The porosity mitigation comes from multiple physical aspects, including keyhole stabilization, widening of the bubble floating channel, and the electromagnetic expulsive force. The predicted penetration depth and weld pool profiles with/without magnetic field show a good agreement with the experimental measurements, including optical micrographs and in-situ metal/glass observation.
Numerical simulations are essential in predicting the behavior of systems in many engineering fields and industrial sectors. The development of accurate virtual representations of actual physical products or processes (also known as digital twins) allows huge savings in cost and resources. In fact, digital twins would allow reducing the number of real, physical prototypes, tests, and experiments, thus also increasing the sustainability of production processes and products’ lifetime. Standard numerical methods fail in providing real time simulations, especially for complex processes such as additive manufacturing applications.
This work aims to use a reduced order model for efficient wire arc additive manufacturing simulations, calibrations and real-time process control. Model reduction, e.g. the proper generalized decomposition [1,2] method, is a popular concept to decrease the computational effort. A new mapping approach [3] was applied to simulate a moving heat source with the proper generalized decomposition. Using this procedure even complex models can be simulated in real-time. The physical model is later on calibrated with the use of a stochastic model updating process and the reduced order model, leading to an optimized real-time simulation.
In this contribution, a proper generalized decomposition model for a bead-on-plate wire arc additive manufacturing is presented. It is also coupled with a stochastic model updating process identifying the heat source characteristics as well as the boundary conditions of the transient thermal problem, whereas the heat source shape is simulated using a Goldak heat source
During resistance spot welding of zinc-coated advanced high-strength steels (AHSSs) for automotive production, liquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracking may occur in the event of a combination of various unfavorable influences. In this study, the interactions of different welding current levels and weld times on the tendency for LME cracking in third-generation AHSSs were investigated. LME manifested itself as high penetration cracks around the circumference of the spot welds for welding currents closely below the expulsion limit. At the same time, the observed tendency for LME cracking showed no direct correlation with the overall heat input of the investigated welding processes. To identify a reliable indicator of the tendency for LME cracking, the local strain rate at the origin of the observed cracks was analyzed over the course of the welding process via finite element simulation. While the local strain rate showed a good correlation with the process-specific LME cracking tendency, it was difficult to interpret due to its discontinuous course. Therefore, based on the experimental measurement of electrode displacement during welding, electrode indentation velocity was proposed as a descriptive indicator for quantifying cracking tendency.
This article presents a cost-effective and reliable method for welding 30 mm thick sheets of shipbuilding steel EH36. The method proposes to perform butt welding in a two-run technique using hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) and submerged arc welding (SAW). The HLAW is performed as a partial penetration weld with a penetration depth of approximately 25 mm. The SAWis carried out as a second run on the opposite side. With a SAWpenetration depth of 8 mm, the weld cross-section is closed with the reliable intersection of both passes. The advantages of the proposed welding method are: no need for forming of the HLAW root; the SAW pass can effectively eliminate pores in the HLAWroot; the high stability of the welding process regarding the preparation quality of the weld edges. Plasma cut edges can be welded without lack of fusion defects. The weld quality achieved is confirmed by destructive tests.
Funktional gradierte Materialien auf Basis von Stellite und Stahl im Laserpulver-Auftragschweißen
(2022)
Das Hinzufügen von Stellite auf Stahl ist eine typische Vorgehensweise um Bauteile gegen Verschleiß und Korrosion zu schützen. Der Sprung in den Materialeigenschaften kann jedoch zu Rissen und somit zum Versagen der Beschichtung führen. Um die Lebensdauer von Beschichtungen zu erhöhen wird daher ein gradierter Übergang mit verschiedenen Materialpaarungen untersucht.
The Directed Energy Deposition process is used in a wide range of applications including the repair, coating or modification of existing structures and the additive manufacturing of individual parts. As the process is frequently applied in the aerospace industry, the requirements for quality assurance are extremely high. Therefore, more and more sensor systems are being implemented for process monitoring. To evaluate the generated data, suitable methods must be developed. A solution, in this context, was the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs). This article demonstrates how measurement data can be used as input data for ANNs. The measurement data were generated using a pyrometer, an emission spectrometer, a camera (Charge-Coupled Device) and a laser scanner. First, a concept for the extraction of relevant features from dynamic measurement data series was presented. The developed method was then applied to generate a data set for the quality prediction of various geometries, including weld beads, coatings and cubes. The results were compared to ANNs trained with process parameters such as laser power, scan speed and powder mass flow. It was shown that the use of measurement data provides additional value. Neural networks trained with measurement data achieve significantly higher prediction accuracy, especially for more complex geometries.
The application of hybrid laser-arc welding (HLAW) for joining closed circumferential welds is a challenge due to the high risk of forming a defective overlap area with a shrinkage void or solidification cracks in the material thickness. A series of HLAW experiments were performed to understand the development of a faulty overlap area when closing the circumferential weld. Welding trials on flat specimens and pipe segments were supported by numerical analyses in which the thermomechanical behavior of the welds in the overlap area was investigated. Different process control strategies were tested, including variations in defocusing levels and the overlap length. The newly developed HLAW head, including laser optics with a motor-driven collimation system, made it possible to defocus the laser beam during welding without disturbing the stability of the welding process. High-level defocusing of the laser beam of more than 40 mm relative to the specimen surface with a resulting beam diameter of > 2.9 mm, and in combination with a short overlap length of 15 mm, was promising with respect to the formation of a desired cup-shaped weld profile that is resistant to solidification cracks.
Laser metal deposition (LMD) as an additive manufacturing technique became increasingly important in recent years and thus the demand for component safety. This is the reason, for the need for reliable in-situ defect detection techniques. For laser beam weld seams an optical measurement technique based on an optical flow algorithm was successfully used to define the critical straining conditions that lead to hot cracking. This algorithm was adapted for bead-on-plate weld seams on LMD deposited layers of IN718 alloy while performing external strain on the specimen in an externally loaded hot cacking test facility. The resulting transversal hot cracks along the weld seam were localized via X-Ray inspection and the type of cracking confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The strain distribution was measured in the vicinity of the solidification front and correlated to the detected hot cracks. Based on the results this technique could be adopted for LMD experiments.