Optimization of weld bead geometry in laser welding with filler wire process using Taguchi’s approach

In the present work, laser welding with filler wire was successfully applied to joining a new-type Al–Mg alloy. Welding parameters of laser power, welding speed and wire feed rate were carefully selected with the objective of producing a weld joint with the minimum weld bead width and the fusion zone area. Taguchi approach was used as a statistical design of experimental technique for optimizing the selected welding parameters. From the experimental results, it is found that the effect of welding parameters on the welding quality decreased in the order of welding speed, wire feed rate, and laser power. The optimal combination of welding parameters is the laser power of 2.4 kW, welding speed of 3 m/min and the wire feed rate of 2 m/min. Verification experiments have also been conducted to validate the optimized parameters.     

不同焊接位置对5A90铝锂合金激光焊接质量的影响(英)

针对铝锂合金激光焊接产生的成形不良和气孔缺陷,探究不同焊接位置对焊缝成形及气孔的影响,并对比分析不同焊接位置熔池受力状态、熔融金属流动和小孔动态行为,解释缺陷形成及其抑制机理。研究发现:不同焊接位置熔池受力状态和熔融金属流动决定焊缝成形。平焊时焊缝成形差、下榻严重;横焊时背面焊缝不连续,有飞溅;立向上焊时背面焊缝内凹严重;立向下焊可得到最优焊缝成形和最优的气孔缺陷。焊缝气孔受小孔动态行为影响,不同焊接位置气孔随热输入的变化规律一致,气孔先增后减,在仅熔池透状态下有气孔最大值。立上焊时小孔不稳定,焊缝气孔多且分布杂乱;立向下焊时小孔稳定性高,气孔最少,主要分布在焊缝中心线上。     

Advances in pulsed laser weld monitoring by the statistical analysis of reflected light

This paper describes two new techniques for monitoring the quality of laser welds by statistical analysis of the reflected light signal from the weld surface. The first technique involves an algorithm that analyses the variance of the peak values of the reflected signal as a measure of the stability of the surface during pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding in the heat conduction mode. Kalman filtering is used to separate a useful signal from the background noise. A good correlation between weld disruption and signal fluctuation has been identified. This technique could be used in tandem with the present practice of simply using the peak values of reflected (or emitted) light as an indicator of weld quality. The second technique investigated involves an assessment of the temporal shape of the power distribution of individual reflected pulses in comparison with an average of the results from a high quality weld. Once again a high correlation between a poor signal match and inferior quality welding was discovered, which may pave the way towards a new generation of optical weld monitoring devices.     

Parameters optimization of laser brazing in crimping butt using Taguchi and BPNN-GA

The laser brazing (LB) is widely used in the automotive industry due to the advantages of high speed, small heat affected zone, high quality of welding seam, and low heat input. Welding parameters play a significant role in determining the bead geometry and hence quality of the weld joint. This paper addresses the optimization of the seam shape in LB process with welding crimping butt of 0.8 mm thickness using back propagation neural network (BPNN) and genetic algorithm (GA). A 3-factor, 5-level welding experiment is conducted by Taguchi L₂₅ orthogonal array through the statistical design method. Then, the input parameters are considered here including welding speed, wire speed rate, and gap with 5 levels. The output results are efficient connection length of left side and right side, top width (WT) and bottom width (WB) of the weld bead. The experiment results are embed into the BPNN network to establish relationship between the input and output variables. The predicted results of the BPNN are fed to GA algorithm that optimizes the process parameters subjected to the objectives. Then, the effects of welding speed (WS), wire feed rate (WF), and gap (GAP) on the sum values of bead geometry is discussed. Eventually, the confirmation experiments are carried out to demonstrate the optimal values were effective and reliable. On the whole, the proposed hybrid method, BPNN-GA, can be used to guide the actual work and improve the efficiency and stability of LB process.     

Optimal design for laser beam butt welding process parameter using artificial neural networks and genetic algorithm for super austenitic stainless steel

Laser welding input parameters play a very significant role in determining the quality of a weld joint. The joint quality can be defined in terms of properties such as weld bead geometry, mechanical properties and distortion. Therefore, mechanical properties should be controlled to obtain good welded joints. In this study, the weld bead geometry such as depth of penetration (DP), bead width (BW) and tensile strength (TS) of the laser welded butt joints made of AISI 904L super austenitic stainless steel were investigated. Full factorial design was used to carry out the experimental design. Artificial Neural networks (ANN) program was developed in MatLab software to establish the relationships between the laser welding input parameters like beam power, travel speed and focal position and the three responses DP, BW and TS in three different shielding gases (Argon, Helium and Nitrogen). The established models were used for optimizing the process parameters using Genetic Algorithm (GA). Optimum solutions for the three different gases and their respective responses were obtained. Confirmation experiment has also been conducted to validate the optimized parameters obtained from GA.     

大功率盘形激光焊飞溅特征分析

焊接过程的在线监控是保证激光焊接质量的关键, 为此, 首先要找到焊接过程传感特征量变化规律以及与焊缝质量间的关系. 飞溅是大功率盘型激光焊接过程中的一个重要现象, 其特征与焊接质量、焊接过程稳定性以及能量利用率等有着密切的联系. 以大功率盘形激光焊接304不锈钢为试验对象, 研究焊接过程中的飞溅特征. 在紫外波段和可见光波段应用高速摄像机摄取焊接过程中产生飞溅的瞬态特征, 通过计算机图像处理技术分析飞溅的数量、面积、行程和质心高度特征参量. 以焊件熔宽作为衡量焊接质量与焊接过程稳定性的因素, 对飞溅特征量进行线性和高次拟合, 研究飞溅特征参量的波动规律, 并与焊件熔宽的变化对比, 探索焊接过程的飞溅特征参量变化规律. 试验结果表明, 根据飞溅特征量变化规律能够对大功率盘形激光焊接304不锈钢板焊接质量做出动态评估, 为实现焊接质量的在线监控提供了试验依据.     

Optimization of laser welding of DP/TRIP steel sheets using statistical approach

Generally, the quality of a weld joint is directly influenced by the welding input parameter settings. Selection of proper process parameters is important to obtain the desired weld bead profile and quality. In this research work, numerical and graphical optimization techniques of the CO₂ laser beam welding of dual phase (DP600)/transformation induced plasticity (TRIP700) steel sheets were carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box–Behnken design. The procedure was established to improve the weld quality, increase the productivity and minimize the total operation cost by considering the welding parameters range of laser power (2–2.2 kW), welding speed (40–50 mm/s) and focus position (?1 to 0 mm). It was found that, RSM can be considered as a powerful tool in experimental welding optimization, even when the experimenter does not have a model for the process. Strong, efficient and low cost weld joints could be achieved using the optimum welding conditions.     

Optimization of hybrid laser – TIG welding of 316LN steel using response surface methodology (RSM)

In the present study, the hybrid laser – TIG welding parameters for welding of 316LN austenitic stainless steel have been investigated by combining a pulsed laser beam with a TIG welding heat source at the weld pool. Laser power, pulse frequency, pulse duration, TIG current were presumed as the welding process parameters whereas weld bead width, weld cross-sectional area and depth of penetration (DOP) were considered as the process responses. Central composite design was used to complete the design matrix and welding experiments were conducted based on the design matrix. Weld bead measurements were then carried out to generate the dataset. Multiple regression models correlating the process parameters with the responses have been developed. The accuracy of the models were found to be good. Then, the desirability approach optimization technique was employed for determining the optimum process parameters to obtain the desired weld bead profile. Validation experiments were then carried out from the determined optimum process parameters. There was good agreement between the predicted and measured values.     

等离子弧焊接熔池演变过程的模拟和验证

本文建立了描述等离子弧焊接熔池相变传热与流动的三维数理模型,考虑表面张力、电磁力和浮升力的作用,并针对等离子弧焊接特点,改进组合式体积热源模型,上部采用双椭球热源,下部采用圆锥体热源。重点分析了焊接熔池形状和温度场的演变过程,熔合线的模拟形状与实验焊缝吻合,较好地呈现了焊缝的凸起和熔池宽度,验证了数学模型和热源模型的正确性。本文还进一步开展了焊接功率和焊接速度的影响分析。研究结果表明,流动对焊缝形状的影响不容忽略,而表面张力在三个流动驱动力中占主导地位;焊接功率越大,焊接速度越小,越有利于焊件焊透,数值模拟得到优化的焊接功率和速度有益于实际焊接生产质量及效率。     

5083铝合金光纤激光-TIG复合焊接工艺研究

采用IPG YLS-6000光纤激光器和Fronius MagicWave3000job数字化焊机,对4mm厚5083H116铝合金进行了复合焊接试验。研究了电源特性、电流大小和热源间距等工艺参数对光纤激光-钨极惰性气体保护焊(TIG)复合焊接焊缝成形的影响规律,并分析了焊接接头的缺陷、显微硬度及力学性能。结果表明,光纤激光-TIG复合焊接5083铝合金,能够明显改善焊缝成形,提高焊接过程稳定性,特别是与变极性TIG电弧复合效果更为显著;光纤激光与变极性TIG电弧复合焊接,采用激光在前的方式,电弧电流150A,且热源间距不大于4mm,可以得到具有明亮金属光泽和均匀鱼鳞纹的焊缝,焊缝无气孔和裂纹缺陷,其表面有少量的下凹;复合焊接接头抗拉强度为318MPa,达到母材强度的93%,延伸率为7.6%,高于单光纤激光焊接,断口分析为韧性断裂。     

Prediction of weld strength and seam width for laser transmission welding of thermoplastic using response surface methodology

In the present work, a study is made to investigate the effects of process parameters, namely, laser power, welding speed, size of the laser beam and clamp pressure, on the lap-shear strength and weld-seam width for laser transmission welding of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate), using a diode laser system. Response surface methodology (RSM) is employed to develop mathematical relationships between the welding process parameters and the output variables of the weld joint to determine the welding input parameters that lead to the desired weld quality. In addition, using response surface plots, the interaction effects of process parameters on the responses are analyzed and discussed. The statistical software Design-Expert v7 is used to establish the design matrix and to obtain the regression equations. The developed mathematical models are tested by analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) method to check their adequacy. Finally, a comparison is made between measured and calculated results, which are in good agreement. This indicates that the developed models can predict the responses adequately within the limits of welding parameters being used.     

Vision-based weld pool boundary extraction and width measurement during keyhole fiber laser welding

In keyhole fiber laser welding processes, the weld pool behavior is essential to determining welding quality. To better observe and control the welding process, the accurate extraction of the weld pool boundary as well as the width is required. This work presents a weld pool edge detection technique based on an off axial green illumination laser and a coaxial image capturing system that consists of a CMOS camera and optic filters. According to the difference of image quality, a complete developed edge detection algorithm is proposed based on the local maximum gradient of greyness searching approach and linear interpolation. The extracted weld pool geometry and the width are validated by the actual welding width measurement and predictions by a numerical multi-phase model.     

Improved microstructure and mechanical properties in gas tungsten arc welded aluminum joints by using graphene nanosheets/aluminum composite filler wires

In the present study, different amounts of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) were added to the 4043 aluminum alloy powders by using the mechanical alloying method to produce the composite filler wires. With each of the produced composite filler wires, one all-weld metal coupon was welded using the gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding process. The microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture surface morphology of the weld metals have been evaluated and the results are compared. As the amount of GNSs in the composition of filler wire is increased, the microstructure of weld metal was changed from the dendritic structure to fine equiaxed grains. Furthermore, the tensile strength and microhardness of weld metal was improved, and is attributed to the augmented nucleation and retarded growth. From the results, it was seen that the GNSs/Al composite filler wire can be used to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of GTA weld metals of aluminum and its alloys.     

Parametric optimisation and microstructural analysis on high power Yb-fibre laser welding of Ti–6Al–4V

In this work thin sheets of Ti–6Al–4V were full penetration welded using a 5 kW fibre laser in order to evaluate the effectiveness of high power fibre laser as a welding processing tool for welding Ti–6Al–4V with the requirements of the aircraft industry and to determine the effect of welding parameters including laser power, welding speed and beam focal position on the weld microstructure, bead profile and weld quality. It involved establishing an understanding of the influence of welding parameters on microstructural change, welding defects, and the characteristics of heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal (WM) of fibre laser welded joints. The optimum range of welding parameters which produced welds without cracking and porosity were identified. The influence of the welding parameters on the weld joint heterogeneity was characterised by conducting detailed microstructural analysis.     

Relationship between weld quality and optical emissions in underwater Nd: YAG laser welding

In underwater laser welding (LBW), the weld quality is very dependent on the shielding conditions of the local dry cavity when other welding parameters are fixed. Thus, diagnosing the stability of the local dry cavity is the key to monitoring of underwater LBW. In this work, a sensing system containing two optical sensors was set up to detect the infrared and ultraviolet waveband of the optical emissions induced in the welding. The effect of water on the laser welding was studied first by conducting direct underwater welding, which was performed without any method to exclude the water from the welding zone. A kind of plasma that has strong ultraviolet emission formed if the water depth was more than several millimeters, which considerably reduced the penetration depth. Then a gas-shielding nozzle was used to form a local dry cavity for underwater LBW. The relationship between the optical signals and the weld quality with various shielding conditions were investigated. The results show that the detected signal well reflects the shielding condition variations of the local dry cavity. The optimal shielding condition could be determined by signal stability.     

Real time estimation of CO2 laser weld quality for automotive industry

Laser welding is one of the most precise welding processes in joining sheet metals. In laser welding, performing real time evaluation of the welding quality is very important to enhance the efficiency of the welding process. In this study, the plasma and spatter, which are generated during laser welding, are measured using UV and IR photodiodes. The factors that influence weld quality are classified into five categories; optimal heat input, slightly low heat input, low heat input, partial joining due to gap mismatch, and nozzle deviation. The data number deviated from reference signals and their standard deviations were also considered to evaluate the qualities. A system was also formulated to perform real time evaluations of the weld quality using a fuzzy multi-feature pattern recognition with the measured signals.     

Welded joints integrity analysis and optimization for fiber laser welding of dissimilar materials

Dissimilar materials welded joints provide many advantages in power, automotive, chemical, and spacecraft industries. The weld bead integrity which is determined by process parameters plays a significant role in the welding quality during the fiber laser welding (FLW) of dissimilar materials. In this paper, an optimization method by taking the integrity of the weld bead and weld area into consideration is proposed for FLW of dissimilar materials, the low carbon steel and stainless steel. The relationships between the weld bead integrity and process parameters are developed by the genetic algorithm optimized back propagation neural network (GA-BPNN). The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is taken for optimizing the predicted outputs from GA-BPNN for the objective. Through the optimization process, the desired weld bead with good integrity and minimum weld area are obtained and the corresponding microstructure and microhardness are excellent. The mechanical properties of the optimized joints are greatly improved compared with that of the un-optimized welded joints. Moreover, the effects of significant factors are analyzed based on the statistical approach and the laser power (LP) is identified as the most significant factor on the weld bead integrity and weld area. The results indicate that the proposed method is effective for improving the reliability and stability of welded joints in the practical production.     

Analysis of a fibre laser welding case study, utilising a matrix flow chart

For fibre laser welding of an eccentric corner joint, the quality of the resulting weld cross section was studied with respect to the dependence on process parameters like lateral laser beam alignment, beam inclination, focal plane position or welding speed. The complex load situation of the support beamer was simplified to bending of one corner. Due to fatigue load, the weld properties causing the peak stress are essential, in particular the top and root shape of the weld cross section. For the parameters varied, the resulting shapes were categorized into different top and root classes, determined by certain key dimensions, considering also welding defects like undercuts. The shapes are boundary conditions for Finite Element Analysis of the joint under load for quantitative comparative analysis of the maximum stress. As two high strength steel grades were joined, the hardness transition across the weld was of interest, too. High speed imaging of the weld pool surface shape provided additional information on the relation between the parameter input and quality output. The different trends identified were discussed and guidelines were derived. As the systematic documentation of results is unsatisfactory in welding, a new method was developed and applied for the first time, called the Matrix Flow Chart. It enables an illustrative view on the resulting welding trends in a combined manner and is extendable by other researchers.     

3D transient multiphase model for keyhole,vapor plume,and weld pool dynamics in laser welding including the ambient pressure effect

The physical process of deep penetration laser welding involves complex, self-consistent multiphase keyhole, metallic vapor plume, and weld pool dynamics. Currently, efforts are still needed to understand these multiphase dynamics. In this paper, a novel 3D transient multiphase model capable of describing a self-consistent keyhole, metallic vapor plume in the keyhole, and weld pool dynamics in deep penetration fiber laser welding is proposed. Major physical factors of the welding process, such as recoil pressure, surface tension, Marangoni shear stress, Fresnel absorptions mechanisms, heat transfer, and fluid flow in weld pool, keyhole free surface evolutions and solid–liquid–vapor three phase transformations are coupling considered. The effect of ambient pressure in laser welding is rigorously treated using an improved recoil pressure model. The predicated weld bead dimensions, transient keyhole instability, weld pool dynamics, and vapor plume dynamics are compared with experimental and literature results, and good agreements are obtained. The predicted results are investigated by not considering the effects of the ambient pressure. It is found that by not considering the effects of ambient pressure, the average keyhole wall temperature is underestimated about 500 K; besides, the average speed of metallic vapor will be significantly overestimated. The ambient pressure is an essential physical factor for a comprehensive understanding the dynamics of deep penetration laser welding.     

Experimental study of temperature and clamping force during Nd:YAG laser butt welding

During welding, a high quality clamping device not only holds workpieces firmly together, but should also take the thermal strain of the welding heat without undermining the strength of the weld joint, inducing any excessive distortions, misalignment of workpieces or reducing the weld joint strength. This paper studies the clamping force during laser butt welding of steel workpieces. The clamping force and welding temperature for a butt welded joint during laser welding are measured simultaneously. The preset clamping force is varied during welding for different thicknesses of workpieces and weld joint strengths. The thermal expansion, cooling contraction, and workpiece width reduction during welding induce variations in the preset clamping force and consequently change the weld joint strength. Our study also reveals that there is an optimal preset clamping force that improves the weld joint strength significantly and the welding temperature during steady welding process remains unchanged for any preset clamping force.