• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.484-490
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• 2002

The formation and stability of stationary laser weld keyholes were investigated using a numerical simulation. The effect of multiple reflections in the keyhole was estimated using the ray tracing method, and the free surface profile, flow velocity and temperature distribution were calculated numerically. In the simulation, the keyhole was formed by the displacement of the melt induced by evaporation recoil pressure, while surface tension and hydrostatic pressure opposed cavity formation. A transition mode having the geometry of the conduction mode with keyhole formation occurred between the conduction and keyhole modes. At laser powers of 500W and greater, the protrusion occurred on the keyhole wall, which resulted in keyhole collapse and void formation at the bottom. Initiation of the protrusion was caused mainly by collision of upward and downward flows due to the pressure components, and Marangoni flow had minor effects on the flow patterns and keyhole stability.bility.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.644-651
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• 2002

The formation and stability of stationary laser weld keyholes are investigated using a numerical simulation. The effect of multiple reflections in the keyhole is estimated using the ray tracing method, and the free surface profile, flow velocity and temperature distribution are calculated numerically. In the simulation, the keyhole is formed by the displacement of the melt induced by evaporation recoil pressure, while surface tension and hydrostatic pressure oppose cavity formation. At laser powers of 500W and greater, the protrusion occurs on the keyhole wall, which results in keyhole collapse and void formation at the bottom. Initiation of the protrusion is caused mainly by collision of upward and downward flows due to the pressure components.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.464-471
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• 2002

Porosity formation in partial penetration welds by high power lasers is a serious problem in industry. There are two main causes that induce porosity formation. One form of porosity is due to gases (e.g. hydrogen, oxygen) dissolving into the weld pool because of the high temperature and then the rapid solidification traps gases as a bubble in the weld metal. The second problem is voids formed by the keyhole collapsing due to unstable keyhole fluid dynamics. The voids that form at the bottom of the keyhole are relatively large and irregular in shape compared to the gas bubbles; this void formation is the primary concern in this paper. The reduction of voids formed by keyhole collapse is achieved by improving the stability of keyhole. Two methods to improve keyhole stability are discussed in this paper: pulse modulation and beam incident angle. Pulse modulation of the laser beam was performed between 100 Hz and 500 Hz to find out the optimum frequency for the keyhole dynamics. The incident beam angle changed the impact angle of the laser beam to the work surface in a range of 0 to 25 degrees. Glycerin in a semi-solidified state is used as a medium for performing the welding because its transparency allows of visualization of the keyhole.