Heat-affected zone

About: Heat-affected zone is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 18787 publications have been published within this topic receiving 231744 citations.

A Coupled Thermal/Material Flow Model of Friction Stir Welding Applied to Sc-Modified Aluminum Alloys

Abstract: A coupled thermal/material flow model of friction stir welding was developed and applied to the joining of Sc-modified aluminum alloy (7042-T6) extrusions. The model reveals that surface material is pulled from the retreating side into the weld zone where it is interleaved with in situ material. Due to frictional contact with the shoulder, the surface material is hotter than the in situ material, so that the final weld microstructure is composed of bands of material with different temperature histories. For this alloy and the associated FSW heating rates, secondary phase dissolution/precipitation temperatures are in proximity to the welding temperatures. Therefore, depending on the surface and in situ material temperatures in relation to these transformation temperatures, disparate precipitate distributions can develop in the bands of material comprising the weld nugget. Based on the numerical simulation and on thermal analysis data from differential scanning calorimetry, a mechanism for the formation of onion rings within the weld zone is presented.

Quality and productivity improvement in aluminium alloy thin sheet welding using alternating current pulsed metal inert gas welding system

Abstract: An alternating current (ac) pulsed metal inert gas (MIG) welding power source has been developed for welding thin sheets of aluminium alloys and the process features are investigated. Advantages such as high wire melting coefficient, low heat input, shallow penetration, and increased reinforcement height are obtained at high values of electrode negative ratio (ratio of electrode negative current integration to electrode negative plus electrode positive current integration over one pulse cycle). These features successfully counteract the problem of burnthrough in welding of thin sheet joints and greatly improve the bridging ability for wide gap joints. Thin sheet joints can be welded at high speed and with low distortion. By integrating the present welding power source with a welding robot, welding process and current waveform parameters can be defined by key operations in the teach pendant. It is possible to switch between welding processes such as ac pulsed MIG, direct current (dc) pulsed MIG, lo...

Numerical simulation of GMAW process using Ar and an Ar–CO2 gas mixture

Abstract: The gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process involves arc plasma, metal transfer, and weld pool phenomena. In addition, metal vapor is formed by evaporation from the high-temperature metal and mixes with the arc plasma. These phenomena interact with each other and are very complicated. A numerical approach that includes their interaction is therefore important for clarifying the GMAW phenomena. We have developed a unified model and used the model to investigate the influence of the shielding gas on the metal transfer. When argon shielding gas was used, for an arc current of less than 230 A, globular transfer occurred. For higher currents, spray transfer occurred. On the other hand, when Ar + 18 %CO2 gas was used, the transition from globular to spray transfer occurred at around 280 A. This difference was caused by changes in the driving force exerted on the molten metal by the arc plasma. The arc pressure that lifts up the molten metal and interferes with its detachment from the wire tip becomes stronger when the gas mixture is used.

Thermoplastic fitting electric heat welding method and apparatus

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically heat welding a thermoplastic fitting having an electric resistance heating element disposed therein whereby a regulated quantity of electric power is supplied to the heating element during the welding process and the making of a high quality weld is insured. In accordance with the method, a controlled electric power is supplied to the resistance heating element of the fitting. The initial magnitude of the current flowing through the heating element is sensed and compared with predetermined current levels for various sizes of fittings whereby the size of the fitting as well as the total time the controlled electric power should be supplied to the heating element of the fitting for the making of a high quality weld are determined. The magnitude of the current flowing through the heating element over the time the controlled electric power is supplied thereto is sensed at predetermined time intervals and compared with predetermined current levels for the size of fitting being welded to thereby determine if the welding process is proceeding abnormally at such time intervals. The electric power supplied to the heating element is terminated when it is determined that the welding process is proceeding abnormally or otherwise at the end of the total time determined to be required for the making of a high quality weld.

Synergetic effects of hybrid laser/arc welding

Abstract: The present study reports the results of a study examining the synergetic effects of hybrid laser/arc welding. Experiments were carried out with a 500 W Nd:YAG laser in combination with standard gas tungsten arc welding equipment and attention was focused on two aspects: the heat transfer efficiency and the melting efficiency. The heat transfer efficiency was determined by calorimetric measurements, whereas the melting efficiency was obtained from the transverse cross-sections of welds produced under various conditions. In addition, analytic calculations of the melting efficiency were performed on the basis of a modified form of the Rosenthal equation. The results show that the interaction of the laser and the arc does not lead to a noticeable change in the heat transfer efficiency, but results in a significant increase in the melting efficiency. The observed synergic melting effect is caused by addition of the two heat sources (laser and arc) and the contraction of the arc by the laser beam.