Measurement and prediction of energy transfer efficiency in laser beam welding
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Physical and Joining Metallurgy Dept.
The absorption of laser energy by the workpiece during laser beam welding (LBW) has been studied through direct measurements of heat input obtained with a Seebeck envelope calorimeter. The experiment compared workpiece materials with contrasting thermal properties, and varied the laser power, travel speed, and focus spot size in order to determine their effects on two figures of merit: the energy transfer efficiency and the melting efficiency. An uncertainty analysis of the experimental measurements and calculated parameters has been included. The energy transfer efficiency during laser beam welding was found to increase with beam intensity from 0.20 to 0.90 and to stabilize at a high value at intensities greater than 30 kW/cm. No correlation with energy transfer efficiency was found for either the fusion zone depth-to-width ratio or the travel speed. A mathematical model for laser welding has been developed using dimensionless parameters that relate the size of a laser weld to the net heat absorbed by the workpiece. Through application of this model, the energy transfer efficiency for continuous wave laser welding processes can be calculated after measurements of weld cross-sectional area have been made. Use of this model is expected to assist in optimization of laser welding for any type of material when it is used to select processing regimes that maximize melting efficiency and energy transfer efficiency.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 197654
- Journal Information:
- Welding Journal, Journal Name: Welding Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 75; ISSN 0043-2296; ISSN WEJUA3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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