Determination of welding heat source parameters for fem simulation based on temperature history and real bead shape

Abstract

Abstract. To improve process understanding and increase the numerical prediction quality of a wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process, this paper focuses on determining the parameters of a numerical model that reproduces an experimental setup of a welding process, with particular attention given to the actual shape of the weld bead. The dimensions of the heat source (HS) model in a welding process are determined based on experimentally measured weld pool sizes as well as temperature history at selected points below and adjacent to a weld seam. The whole experimental setup is accurately reproduced within the Simufact.Welding software and an optimization procedure is applied to obtain the best possible agreement between experimental and numerical results. A validated numerical model with reliable parameters for two heat sources is later used to predict and observe material behavior during the WAAM process of more complex parts.