Mass transfer in a melt under laser-arc interaction conditions

Abstract

An analytic form of the steady-state lines of flow was obtained for a melt inside a bath under conditions of laser-arc interaction at laser radiation intensities in the range of 0.5–1 MW/cm2 when the electric-arc discharge current was low (less than 100 A) and the velocity of the combined source was also low (less than 1 cm/s). The results of analytic calculations agreed well with the experimental data. Allowance for the nonsteady motion of the melt did not alter the lines of flow, although the existence of pulsations of the metal vapor recoil pressure was a decisive factor responsible for the excitation of this melt motion.