Modeling of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in Laser Welding with a Moving Heat Source

Abstract

In the present study, a numerical simulation is performed for the detailed prediction of heat transfer, phase change and fluid flow in welding process with moving heat source. This process may be considered steady with respect to the reference frame attached to the heat source for a long metal block. The problem is formulated by considering the three-dimensional equations of continuity, momentum and energy based on enthalpy model. The equations is solved using a fully implicit, control-volume-based computational method for fixed grids. The calculation domain including solid and liquid phases is solved together as a continuous region. Solid phase velocity is corrected using suitable source terms in the momentum equations. Phase change is considered based on the latent heat of evolution as a source term in the energy equation.The effects of thermal buoyancy and Marangoni flow on melting process are analyzed.