Turbulent molten pool analysis of tandem GMA automotive steel sheet welding

In this research, a three-dimensional turbulent weld pool simulation technique of tandem gas tungsten arc welding (GMAW) in a lap joint fillet is described and compared to a conventional laminar flow simulation. Basically, four governing equations are adopted for continuity, namely, continuity, Navier-Stokes, energy, and the popular volume of fluid equations. According to the basic theory of an arc weld pool, all known characteristics such as the arc heat input, arc pressure, electromagnetic force, and Marangoni flow are applied to the analysis model as a body force term or boundary conditions. A conventional arc weld pool analysis usually adopts a laminar flow; however, its results have shown a weld bead shape that is quite different from an experiment of a tandem GMA lap joint fillet welding of an automotive steel sheet. Therefore, the authors suggest the use of a k-εturbulent analysis model and show that its results coincide with the experiment results.