Weld pool formation and flowing behaviors of aluminum alloy during TIG welding process with a longitudinal electromagnetic field

Abstract

The Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding (TIG) hybrid an electromagnetic field (abbr. FM-TIG) is an effective method to improve the welding quality of steel, and it is also an accepted joining technique in a wide range of non-ferrous metal manufacturing application. In order to study the forming inception of welding pool in TIG hybrid longitudinal electromagnetic field (abbr. LMF-TIG), the process of breeding, growing and developing of LMF-TIG welding pool is simulated by finite element method (abbr. FEM). Our study shows that LMF-TIG is significantly different from TIG welding in the welding pool formation process. The molten liquid metal flowing actions have these characteristics in LMF-TIG welding pool: the incubation stage has the "step" type unsteady flowing property, the growth stage shows the "double loop" flowing pattern, and a unique "stirring" movement mode occurs in the whole developing process. The experimental results indicate that the FEM simulation is effective and reliable.