Understanding of Laser Welding Phenomena
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | GKN AEROSPACE SWEDEN AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 5 083 000 |
| Project duration | September 2013 - October 2018 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The purpose of the project was to develop and verify a model for laser welding and apply it to gain deeper process understanding related to defects that cannot yet be easily detected: lack of robustness and porosity.
Expected results and effects
Results and expected effects outcomes - in English (max 500 characters) This objective has been achieved and the results disseminated through conference and journal publications, lectures in industry and master course, student project supervision, engineer training to the application of the developed model. Also, the project outputs did allow starting new Swedish and European projects in additive manufacturing with laser.
Planned approach and implementation
The model were developped using the open source code OpenFoam. The model calibration and verification were made using the material Ti 6-4, since accurate material data are available. The result from model properties shows a strong dependence from thermo capillar forces, vapor pressure and surface tension. Variations in these properties and the balance between them mayy generate an unstable process and for example cause gas inclusions/pores in the weld created.