CFD-based model for melt flow in laser beam welding of aluminium with coaxial magnetic field

In this paper, a CFD-based model will be presented that was used to numerically calculate the resulting velocity field for laser beam welding of aluminium with external applied magnetic fields. The model includes temperaturedepending material properties, surface tension and buoyancy. The inhomogeneous magnetic flux density distribution implemented in this model has been derived from Hall sensor probes of a welding head prototype used for experimental investigations. It is shown that a steady magnetic field applied coaxially to the laser beam will affect the direction of melt flow and can be described as an inhomogeneous electromagnetic break.