Nonlinear Optimization Methods for the Determination of Heat Source Model Parameters

Abstract

In this paper the technique of parameter identification is investigated to reconstruct the 3D transient temperature field for the simulation of laser beam welding. The reconstruction bases on volume heat source models and makes use of experimental data. The parameter identification leads to an inverse heat conduction problem which cannot be solved exactly but in terms of an optimal alignment of the simulation and experimental data. To solve the inverse problem, methods of nonlinear optimization are applied to minimize a problem dependent objective function.In particular the objective function is generated based on the Response Surface Model (RSM) technique. Sampling points on the RSM are determined by means of Finite-Element-Analysis (FEA). The scope of this research paper is the evaluation and comparison of gradient based and stochastic optimization algorithms. The proposed parameter identification makes it possible to determine the heat source model parameters in an automated way. The methodology is applied on welds of dissimilar material joints.