FINITE ELEMENT STUDY ON THE ROLE OF CONVECTION IN LASER SURFACE MELTING

Abstract

The surface-tension-driven convection in laser melting has been simulated by the Galerkin finite element method. The governing laminar, axisymmelric convection equations are solved in a sequential manner by an explicit projection method. The numerical results show a strong dependence of the flow pattern on the value of the temperature coefficient of surface tension (σ_T). Results are presented for a range of σ_T values typical in steel, -l0⁻⁴≤σ_T + l0⁻⁴N/mK. As the melt depth is more affected than the width, the melt aspect ratio changes due to convection. The melt pool is broad and shallow when σ_T < 0, and deep and narrow when σ_T > 0.

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Notes on contributors

K. Ravindran

Address correspondence to K. Ravindran, Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom