Incorporation of Taguchi approach with CFD simulations on laser welding of spacer grid fuel rod assembly

Abstract

The high heat density laser welding process minimizes the thermal distortion and residual stresses. Optimal welding process parameters are necessary to ensure the quality of weld. Identification of such welding process parameters is possible through incorporation of Taguchi approach with CFD simulations. This paper deals with CFD simulations on laser beam welding (LBW) of spacer grid fuel rod assembly as per the Taguchi’s L9orthogonal array and identification of optimal LBW parameters with pulsed laser for spot and seam welding of spacer grid. Empirical relations are developed for the weld-bead geometry in terms of the LBW process parameters and validated with numerical simulations.