Analysis of laser beam welding of the S650MC high strength steel using numerical simulation

Abstract

Laser beam welding (LBW) is used in a wide range of industries, e. g. in the mechanical engineering, R&D, electronics, medical, aerospace or automotive industries. LBW technology is very popular not only for the well-known advantages comparing to another processes of fusion welding but also due to the fact that it can be easily integrated into the automated production lines. Modelling and numerical simulation of LBW processes provides a possibility to explore in detail technological principles and complex phenomena associated with this technology. The contribution is focused on the application of numerical simulation for the analysis and design of parameters for laser welding of S650MC high-strength steel sheets. For this purpose, simulation model of LBW process was developed and applied for numerical simulation of temperature fields in the program code ANSYS. A verification experiment was carried out using TruDisk 4002 disk laser. During the laser welding experiment, temperatures were measured using thermocouples of the K-type. The macrostructure of the produced weld joints was assessed by light microscopy. Measured temperatures and dimensions of welded joints were compared with results obtained by numerical simulation. Finally, using the verified simulation model, suitable parameters for laser welding of sheets from S650MC high-strength steel with the thickness of 4 mm were suggested.