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Title: Ultra-narrow gap laser welding of BeAl alloys. Final report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/296775· OSTI ID:296775
 [1];  [2]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
  2. OptiCAD Corp., Santa Fe, NM (United States)

The original scope of the project was to develop a method to enhance the laser welding of BeAl alloys by the use of weld joint designs based on the principals of non-imaging optics. The projected three year program focused on the development of geometric optical models which predict the trapping of laser energy within the weld joint and experimental validation of these models. The first year was fully funded, meeting all expectations and deliverables for the demonstration of the method for aluminum only. The second year funding levels did not allow any work to be done at Los Alamos. OptiCAD continued with model development with a change in scope to model the laser welding requirements of ongoing weapons related programs which could provide data for model validation. The project ended at the end of FY97 without funding a third year and never reaching the goal of welding beryllium, as a result. Despite the poor funding situation, original quality process research was accomplished and reported as described in the three technical reports of Appendix A. Solid technical contribution, directly applicable to weapons programs is evidenced by the inclusion of an optically designed laser weld joint being specified on a LANL drawing of an aluminum subassembly.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
296775
Report Number(s):
LA-CRADA-98-2; ON: DE99000876; CRN: LA-CRADA-98-2; 95-LANL-303-DPI; TRN: AHC29903%%173
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: [1998]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English