Laser Heating and Flow Field Developed in the Melt Pool

Abstract

Laser heating of steel and formation of a melt pool in the laser-heated surface are examined. Temperature field in the irradiated region and the velocity field in the melt layer are predicted numerically. The numerical simulations are in line with the experiment to compare the melt size. The control volume approach is introduced in the numerical simulation, and the porosity–enthalpy method is adopted to accommodate the mushy zone during the phase change process. It is found that temperature decays sharply below the surface; however, it decreases gradually along the r-axis due to the laser power intensity distribution at the surface, which is Gaussian. Two contra-rotating circulation cells are formed in the melt pool. The size of the melt pool predicted agrees with the experimental findings.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Notes

The solidus and liquidus temperatures of steel are 1766 and 1788 K, respectively [27].