Multi-physical simulation of the influence of an auxiliary magnetic field on the process porosity formation during high-power laser beam welding

Abstract

In this project, a multiphysically coupled numerical model will be developed to quantitatively describe porosity reduction in high-power laser beam welding of up to 10 mm thick AlMg3 using an oscillating magnetic field. The aim is to gain fundamental insights into the physical dependencies of the introduced electromagnetic forces on the melt pool behavior and the reduction of porosity. With the help of the numerical model, the transient, multi-coupled, three-dimensional problem of heat transfer, liquid flow, free surface deformation, and magnetic induction is to be solved, taking into account temperature-dependent material properties. The numerical modelling of the heat source will integrate all relevant physical mechanisms, for instance, multiple reflections of the laser radiation by an advanced ray tracing model, as well as local Fresnel absorption at the keyhole wall. This allows an analysis of the keyhole fluctuations, which have a dominant influence on the formation of process spores during deep penetration welding, based on physical principles. In addition, further physical factors such as the ablation pressure of the evaporating metal, the Laplace pressure, and Marangoni shear stresses are also to be integrated into the model. To evaluate the pore formation and reduction by means of the electromagnetic forces introduced in the molten pool, suitable models for describing the movement of the pores in the melt are to be developed. For the process pores, their movement can be implemented by tracking their surface under consideration of their internal pressure and temperature. With the help of the simulation model, all key factors for the formation of process pores during laser beam welding of the used aluminum alloy, as well as their avoidance, can be decoupled and analyzed. Accompanying welding tests are planned at BAM on a 20 kW fiber laser and a 16 kW disk laser. The magnetic flux density will be up to 500 mT at a maximum frequency of 5 kHz. The experimental results, in particular temperature measurements, weld cross sections, computer tomography, and X-ray examinations, will be used to verify the multiphysical model and its calibration. Moreover, the models will be validated and quantified by in situ high-speed imaging of the keyhole dynamics in a metal/quartz glass configuration with keyhole illumination by a diode laser coaxial to the processing laser. On the basis of the numerical and experimental results, the dependencies between applied magnetic field, melt pool behavior, and porosity formation will be revealed in this project.