Measurement and analysis on the thermal and mechanical transfer characteristics of GTA arc affected by arc length

Abstract

Arc length is an important factor affecting the thermal and mechanical transfer characteristics of GTA arc. Arc calorimeter and arc pressure sensor were used to study the thermal and mechanical transfer characteristics. The influence mechanism of the thermal and mechanical characteristics on the morphology of metal deposition is explained. The experimental results revealed that the increase of arc length will increase the effective power output, arc heat and its action range, but will decrease the peak value of arc pressure. Accordingly, the short arc length will lead to a smaller molten pool and smaller metal droplets. Instead, a long arc length will lead to a larger molten pool and larger metal droplets. The single deposition layer formed by short arc length is high and narrow, and the single deposition layer formed by long arc length is low and wide. Therefore, the arc length can be controlled according to the product structure requirements to obtain different morphology of droplet deposition layers.