Analysis of the transport phenomena in the interfacial region between TIG arcs and weld pools

It is of considerable practical interest in welding to provide a faithful representation of dynamic coupling between the welding are and the weld pool surface. This paper introduces a three-dimensional model for fluid flow and heat transfer in the interfacial region between the TIG are plasma and weld pool. It accounts for;he interaction between the are plasma and the weld pool. The predicted current density and heat flux distributions in TIG welding arcs are compared with experimental measurements taken from literatures. The computed current densities, heat flux and are pressure at the anode are taken as inputs to the calculation of weld pool behavior. A series of data about the fluid flow field, temperature profiles, weld pool geometry and surface deformation are obtained. The validity of the model is verified through TIG welding experiments (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V..