Structural Connections for Lightweight Metallic Structures

Abstract

This chapter starts with an overview of the fusion welding processes used in aluminium welding and further progresses by analysing in detail the characteristics of laser welding of aluminium. Laser sources for welding are available for a few decades but new concepts are coming to the market. The chapter addresses the most commonly used lasers for materials processing, CO 2 and Nd-YAG (neodymium–yttrim aluminium garnet) and their interaction with aluminium alloys in welding applications. More recent laser types are also included, namely fibre lasers and disc lasers as, though only more recently available in the market, their potential is foreseen as being interesting for welding of aluminium. Hybrid laser MAG (Metal Active Gas) welding has proven to lead to good results in welding aluminium plates namely for long seam welding.