Abstract
A three-dimensional quasi-state heat conduction model is presented for the solid/liquid interface in laser welding of thin sheet metals. The vapour plasma plume effect is incorporated into the model by considering the electromagnetic field equation to determine the laser power reaching the substrate surface after passing through the plume region. Optical properties, such as the dielectric constant and electrical conductivity of plume, and the thermal conductivity of the vapour of stainless steel 316 in the plume region are estimated. Elliptic-paraboloid weld pool geometry is considered and analytic expressions for temperature distributions are obtained in the solidand liquidregions based on theweld pool geometry. Experimental and theoretical results for the weld depths and widths areillustratedfor process parameters such as the laser power, welding speed, and weld pool shape factors in x and y directions.
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