In this paper, laser repetitive pulse heating of steel surface is conducted to predict temperature and melt pool geometry in the irradiated region. The enthalpy porosity method is incorporated to account for the phase change in the irradiated surface. The flow field in the melt pool is simulated after considering the Marangoni effect. To examine the influence of the laser pulse intensity distribution on the formation and flow field in the melt pool, the laser pulse intensity parameter (β) is introduced in the analysis. An experiment is conducted to compare the melt pool geometry predicted from the simulation and that obtained from the experiment. The melt pool size is significantly affected by the intensity parameter (i.e., the melt pool is too shallow for high-intensity parameters). The predicted melt pool geometry is in agreement with the experimental results.
Purpose -A model study of laser heating process including phase change and molten flow in the melt pool gives physical insight into the process and provides useful information on the influence of melting parameters. In addition, the predictions reduce the experimental cost and minimize the experimental time. Consequently, investigation into laser control melting of the titanium alloy becomes essential. The purpose of this paper is to do this. Design/methodology/approach -Laser repetitive pulse heating of titanium surface is investigated and temperature field as well as Marangoni flow in the melt pool is predicted using finite volume approach. The influence of laser scanning speed and laser pulse parameter (defining the laser pulse intensity distribution at the workpiece surface) on temperature distribution and melt size is examined. The experiment is carried out to validate temperature predictions for two consecutive laser pulses. Findings -The influence of laser scanning speed is significant on the melt pool geometry, which is more pronounced for the laser pulse parameter b ¼ 0. Temperature predictions agree with the thermocouple data obtained from the experiment. Research limitations/implications -Although temperature dependent properties are used in the simulations, isotropy in properties may limit the simulations. The laser canning speed is limited to 0.3 m/s, which is good for surface treatment process, but it may slow for annealing treatments. Practical implications -The results are very useful to capture insight into the melting process. In addition, the influence of laser scanning speed and laser pulse intensity distribution on the melt formation in the surface vicinity is well presented, which will be useful for those working on laser surface treatment process. Originality/value -The work is original and findings are new, which demonstrate the influence of laser parameters on the melt pool formation and resulting Marangoni flow.
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