Numerical Estimation of the Shape of Weld and Heat Affected Zone in Laser-arc Hybrid Welded Joints

Numerical modeling of thermal phenomena with the motion of fusion zone in the welding pool taken into account is performed in this study for hybrid welding process using Yb:YAG laser with electric arc in GMAW method. New hybrid heat source model is developed on the basis of classical Goldak model for the electric arc and interpolation model for the laser beam with the experimental data of Yb:YAG laser beam distribution taken into account. Temperature field and melted material velocity field are calculated on the basis of numerical solution into mass, momentum and energy conservation equations in finite volume method with Chorin's projection method. Computer simulations of temperature field and melted material velocity field are performed in the welding pool for different distances between heat sources. The comparison of numerically estimated geometry of characteristic zones of joints with macroscopic pictures of cross sections of welds is made in order to evaluate the suitability of developed numerical model in industrial applications.