Understanding Bead Hump Formation in Gas Metal Arc Welding Using a Numerical Simulation

Abstract

Three-dimensional numerical simulations were conducted to study temperature distributions and fluid flows during formation of humped beads in high speed gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Based on simulation and experimental results, the physical mechanisms associated with humping phenomenon were investigated and two conditions responsible for hump formation were identified: the formation of thin liquid channel induced by surface tension pinching force and premature solidification of the melt in the thin channel that divides the weld pool into a front and rear portion. A strong backward fluid flow that produced an accumulation of melt at the rear of the weld pool increased the size of humps. Although surface tension was shown to be important in hump formation, Marangoni flow induced by negative surface tension gradients was not significant for hump formation. The simulation results clarified the fluid flow associated with two different hump shapes. Experimental welds without bead humping were made at a lower travel speed and were also simulated to illustrate the differences in heat and fluid flow from humped beads.