Melt Pool Simulation of Dual Laser Beam-Arc Hybrid Welding of Aluminum Alloy Using Finite Element Method

In this study, the melt pool formation behavior of high-speed laser-arc hybrid welding of aluminum plates was simulated using finite element analysis (FEA). To evaluate the heat input efficiencies of the laser and arc, standalone laser or arc welding experiments were conducted using the same arc or laser processing parameters as those employed in hybrid welding. These experiments were also simulated using FEA to calibrate the laser and arc heat adsorption parameters. The melt pool shapes were measured from cross-sectional optical microscope (OM) images of the specimens and subsequently used to develop a thermal analysis simulation of the laser and arc welding processes. A simulation model for the laser-arc hybrid welding process was developed by combining the heat input models of the laser and arc welding processes. The FEA model successfully predicted the melt pool shapes observed in the experiments. The accuracy of the developed model was evaluated, yielding average errors in the melt pool sizes of the laser, arc, and hybrid welds of 5.43%, 6.89%, and 4.51%, respectively.