Numerical and experimental analysis of rapidly solidified laser remelted Al 5wt pct Ni surfaces

Abstract

The aim of this work was to develop a heat transfer mathematical model based on the finite difference method in order to simulate temperature fields in the laser surface remelting process. Convective heat transfer in the remelted pool was taken into account by using the effective thermal conductivity approach. Theoretical predictions furnished by previous models from the literature were used for validation of numerical simulations performed with the proposed model. Experiments of laser surface remelting of Al-5 wt pct Ni samples were carried out in the present investigation, and numerical simulations were applied for the laser machine operating parameters. The work also encompasses an analysis of microstructural and microhardness variations throughout the resulting treated and untreated zones.