13. High-Speed Conduction-Mode Micro-Laser Welding of Thin SS-304 Sheets: Modeling and Experimental Validation

In this work, an experimental investigation has been carried out to identify the set of process parameters that leads to the formation of conduction-type micro-welds in thin SS-304 sheets. Thereafter, a 3-D computational model has been developed to understand the process physics in-depth and to clarify the influence of various process parameters on the weld bead profile quantitatively. The phenomena of heat transfer, fluid flow, melting and solidification are incorporated into the model. The model is used to describe the thermo-fluid behavior (temperature and velocity field) and the melt pool characteristics. The simulated weld pool geometry agreed well with the corresponding experimental observations. The developed computational model can be effectively used to quantify the influence of different processing conditions in conduction-mode micro-laser welding and to develop a process map.