Numerical simulation of metallic powder flow in a coaxial nozzle in laser direct metal deposition

To investigate the influencing rule of deposited layer’s shape on coaxial powder feeding flow field in the metal forming process, gas–solid two-phase flow theory is used to analyze effect of deposited layers on powder concentration distribution and variation of focus distance from nozzle outlet to convergence point (the center of the convergent zone). Different height and width parameters of deposited layers were chosen to calculate the powder concentration distribution, consequently, and also their effect on additive height of single-trace cladding layer was studied by experimental investigations. The numerical results are in good agreement with experimental observations. The results indicated that additive height of cladding layer was non-uniform under uneven wall thickness of parts fabrication condition. Consequently, the surface of deposited layers with uneven thickness is not smooth, and hence affects surface forming quality.