Heat propagation simulation of thin-walled Ti6Al4V alloy components fabricated by double-wire GTAW additive manufacturing

Abstract

In this study, a temperature field finite element model of the thin-walled Ti6Al4V alloy component fabricated by double-wire tungsten arc welding-based wire arc additive manufacturing was established. Detailed heat propagation of the molten pool and the deposited layer was analysed systematically. The simulated results illustrate that the heat accumulation of the thin-walled Ti6Al4V alloy component becomes evident step by step as the deposition process proceeds. The height of the specified heat affect zone increases gradually, and then stabilises, and the stable value is ∼14 mm. The molten pool influences two deposition layers when it moves. The heat conduction from the thin-walled to the substrate still plays a major role as the layers are deposited.