Smoothed particle hydrodynamics modelling of the fluid flow and heat transfer in the weld pool during laser spot welding

Abstract

Smoothed particle hydrodynamics is employed, for the first time, to develop a numerical model for the melting and fluid flow during laser welding process. In this meshlessLagrangian method the gas-melt two phase flow, heat transfer, surface tension, and melting of solid parent material are considered. This model was used to study the evolution of temperature field and fluid flow in the case study of laser spot welding in 2D. The simulation results show a strong influence of the melting process on the flow of liquid metal and a clear influence of the Marangoni flow on the heat transfer is also found.