Welding of Ti-6Al-4V alloy using dynamically controlled plasma arc welding process

A novel dynamically controlled plasma arc welding process was introduced,which is able tominimize heat input into the workpiece materials while maintaining desired full penetration,and it was used to weld Ti-6Al-4V alloy sheets.The microstructures,facture surfaces and microhardness of the welded joints were characterized by using optical microscope,scanning electron microscope （SEM） and Vickers microhardness tester.Comparing with welds such as gas tungsten arc and conventional plasma arc processes,the experimental results revealed the improvements when using the present process including：1） reducing prior-beta （β） grain size and prohibiting formation of hard martensite phases in the fusion zone due to the decreased heat input;and 2） better toughness and higher hardness.

Finite element analysis of keyhole plasma arc welding based on an adaptive heat source mode

An adaptive heat source mode is proposed to account for the keyhole effect and the characteristics of volumetric distribution along the direction of the workpiece thickness. Finite element analysis of the temperature field in keyhole plasma arc welding is conducted and the weld geometry is obtained. The predicted results are in agreement with the measured ones.

Modeling the keyhole shape and dimension in plasma arc welding

It is of great significance to model the keyhole shape and dimensions to optimize the plasma arc welding process parameters. In this study, through employing a combined volumetric heat source mode, the weld pool in keyhole plasma arc welding is determined firstly, and then the dynamic force-balance condition on the interface between the plasma jet and the molten metal is dealt with in describing the keyhole formation inside the weld pool. The effects of welding current on the shape and size of keyhole are numerically analyzed. The sharp transformation from a partial keyhole to a full-penetration keyhole is quantitatively demonstrated.

Determination of arc pressure pool surface in and current density on the molten plasma arc welding

A unified numerical model is developed to couple the plasma arc, weld pool and keyhole in a self consistent way. The plasma arc/anode interface and the melt/solid interface are treated specially, the VOF method is used to trace the moving keyhole wall, and the fluid flow and heat transfer in both the plasma arc and weld pool are numerically simulated. The distributions of current density and arc pressure on the weld pool surface during the keyhole formation process are analyzed using the coupled model. The predicted arc pressure and current density are compared with the experimentally measured results, and both are in good agreement.

A computer-based control system for keyhole plasma arc welding

A new kind of control system for keyhole plasma arc welding （K-PAW） was developed based on the computer and the Graphics Language--LabVIEW. It can set and output the required current waveforms with desired decreasing slopes so that the corresponding ＂opening and closing＂ of keyhole can occur periodically. With this control strategy of welding current waveforms, the workpiece is fully penetrated while no burn-through Occurs. Keyhole plasma arc welding experiments were conducted to verify the stability and reliability of the developed system.

Experimental determination of the weld penetration evolution in keyhole plasma arc welding

Keyhole plasma arc welding experiments are conducted to measure the weld geometry and penetration at different moments during the initial phase from igniting arc to quasi-steady state. Indirect information on keyhole formation and evolution in plasma arc welding can be extracted based on the weld macrophotograph at cross section. It has laid foundation to verify the mathematical models of keyhole plasma arc welding.

Analysis of keyhole geometry in plasma arc welding

The key problem for numerical simulation of plasma arc welding （PAW） process is to develop a suitable and adaptive volumetric heat source mode which reflects the physical characteristics of keyhole PAW. To this end, the keyhole geometry under different PAW process conditions must be predicted. In this paper, a mathematical model for determining the keyhole shape is developed with considering the mass and momentum conservation of the in-keyhole plasma jet as well as the pressure equilibrium at the plasma jet/liquid metal boundary. A suitable heat source model related to the keyhole shape is applied to the calculation of PAW weld dimensions. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental ones.

Analysis of the 3-D fluid velocity and temperature profile in keyhole plasma arc welding

Modeling and simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in keyhole plasma arc welding is of great significance for optimizing the process parameters. In this study, a three-dimensional transient model is established to analyze numerically the heat transfer and fluid flow phenomena in keyhole plasma arc welding. VOF （volume of fluid） method is used to track the boundary of the keyhole. The dynamic developments of keyhole geometry, the fluid velocity field and temperature profiles are numerically simulated. And the changing Of the fluid velocity and pressure distribution on the keyhole wall in the forming process of the keyhole are analyzed.

System Identification of Controlled Pulse Keyhole Plasma Arc Welding Process

The development of closed-loop control systems is one of the most effective ways to improve the stability of the keyhole status during keyhole plasma arc welding （K-PAW）. Due to the disadvantages of the ＂one-pulse-one-keyhole＂ technology based on the conventional square current waveform, the controlled pulse welding current waveform is newly applied to control the keyhole open and close periodically. In order to realize the real-time control on the keyhole behavior with this advanced current waveform, welding experiments and system identification are conducted based on the classical control theory. One complete welding cycle can be divided into 3 periods. The keyhole establishing time is the most important time variable, which determines the keyhole behavior and welding process stability. At the same time, the averaged effiux plasma arc voltage during one pulse cycle can reflect the real keyhole dimension and status in a real-time manner. Therefore, two single-input-single-output （SISO） systems are proposed, in which keyhole establishing time and keyhole average dimension are taken as the system controlled variables respectively. Welding experiments are designed with the peak current varying randomly. Experiments show that the keyhole establishing time changes in an opposite direction to the varied peak current, and the averaged efflux plasma arc voltage varies with the same trend as the peak current. Based on the least squares technique and F test of classical system identification, second order difference equation for keyhole establishing time/peak current system and first order difference equation for keyhole average dimension/peak current system are obtained. It is proved that the calculated data by the two mathematical expressions are well matched with the measured data. The proposed research provides mathematical expressions and theoretical analysis to develop closed-loop systems for the controlled pulse K-PAW.

Modeling of Arc Force in Plasma Arc Welding

A three-dimensional mathematical model for the transferred-type argon arc was developed to describe arc force on the anode surface. The software ANSYS was employed to solve the model. The model includes a part of torch and tungsten electrode to achieve more reasonable resuits. The arc temperature and flow fields were derived. And the influences of welding parameters on arc force were also studied. The simulated results show that arc pressure at the anode are dependent on the welding current, plasma gas flow rate and electrode neck-in, while not sensitive to arc length.

NTWV-based sensing keyhole dimension in plasma arc welding

During stable keyhole plasma arc welding, the pilot arc and the transferred arc exist at the meantime, and the arcs can be considered as a composition of two parts inside and outside the nozzle, respectively. Under the mechanical constriction and thermal contraction effects, the inside arc has certain arc length, electron density and arc profile etc. inducing constant tungsten-to-nozzle voltage. However, the arc outside the nozzle diverges at about 5 degrees and has certain characteristics similar to the free arcs. The nozzle-to-workpiece voltage （NTWV） depends mainly on the length of the arc, which gets bigger as increasing of the weld penetration and keyhole size. The NTWV sensor is developed for monitoring NTWV in real time. The welding experiments are designed to get different penetrations and keyhole sizes. It is found that as the weld penetration and the keyhole size increase, NTWV also increases linearly. The NTWV signals can be used as the feedback variable in automatic control of keyhole plasma arc welding.

Numerical analysis of transient keyhole shape in pulsed current plasma arc welding

Based on the characteristics of ＂one keyhole in a pulse＂ in pulsed current plasma arc welding （PAW） , the transient variation process of weld pool in a pulse cycle is simulated through the establishment of corresponding heat source model. And considering the effects of gravitational force, plasma arc pressure and surface tension on the weld pool surface, the dynamic change features of the keyhole shape in a pulse cycle are calculated by using surface deformation equation. Experiments are conducted and validate that the calctdated weld fusion line is in good agreement with the experimental results.

Closed-loop control system design and experimental study for controlled pulse keyhole plasma arc welding

The controlled pulse waveform is newly applied in keyhole plasma arc welding process. Two additional descending slopes can guarantee stable and smooth transition of keyhole closing and opening periodically. To develop a closed-loop control system for this special welding process, the key point is the determination of system input and output variables. The averaged efflux plasma voltage during a pulse cycle is defined as the characteristic variable reflecting the real keyhole dimension. Research and experiments are conducted to explore the relationship between the characteristic variable and weld pe^Cormance. Results show that alternated peak current can significantly change the keyhole dimension and the penetration. It is proposed that the keyhole average dimension is taken as the controlled variable, and the peak pulse current value and slopes are taken as control variables.

Numerical analysis of weld pool geometry in pulsed current plasma arc welding

Numerical analysis of weld pool shape and size is of great significance for selection and optimization of the process parameters in pulsed current plasma arc welding （PAW）. In this paper, a mathematical model and relevant algorithm are developed to determine the temperature profiles and weld pool geometry in pulsed current PAW through employing an adaptive heat source model. The volumetric heat source consists of semi-ellipsoid at upper part and a conic body at lower part along the workpiece thickness direction. The dynamic variation features of weld pool shape during a pulse cycle are numerically simulated. The calculated weld cross-section is consistent with the measure one.

Numerical analysis of keyhole establishment time in keyhole plasma arc welding

Numerical analysis of keyhole shape and keyhole establishment time is of great significance for selection and optimization of the process parameters in keyhole plasma arc welding. In this paper, a three-dimensional transient model is developed to analyze the evolutions of keyhole shape and keyhole establishment time in continuous current plasma arc welding process. Firstly, a combined volumetric heat source model is used to simulate the transient variation of temperature field. And then the surface deformation equation is adopted to calculate dynamic features of the keyhole shape and keyhole establishment time inside weld pool, in which the force action on weld pool surface is considered. Experiment is cond^ted to validate the numerical simulation results. The predicted keyhole size and keyhole establishment time are in agreement with the experimental measurement. And the calculated fusion zone geometry is consistent with the measured one.

Simulation analysis of double arc in plasma arc welding

Aimed at plasma arc welding, a mathematic model was established according to the theory of magnetic fluid dyaamics. The model was numerically analyzed by ANSYS software. The temperature, current density and plasma velocity distributions of normal arc had been simulated and compared with those of double arc. The results show that the appearance of double arc has made the temperature of the nozzle rise up to 5 000 K. The appearance of side arc could make the current density of the main arc decrease, and also make the maximal temperature of the arc reduce.

Effects of controlled pulse current waveform on key-holing condition in plasma arc welding

To overcome the shortcomings of conventional plasma arc welding （ PAW）, the ＇ controlled pulse key-holing＇ strategy is proposed and the keyhole PAW experiment system is developed. ＇The efflux plasma voltage signal is detected in realtime to characterize the keyhole size and dimension. The welding current waveform for controlled pulse key-holing strategy is implemented, and two slow-decreasing slopes are added at the dropping point from peak current to base current to further reduce both heat input and arc force so that the controllability of keyhole dynamics is improved. Two kinds of PAW tests are conducted, anti the different parameters of the controlled pulse current and the relevant efflux plasma voltage are measured in real-time to investigate ihe effects of welding current waveform parameters on the key-holing condition.

Cathodic cleaning in variable polarity plasma arc welding of aluminum alloys

Variable polarity plasma arc welding (VPPAW) is one of the most excellent processes used for welding aluminum alloys recently. It combines the advantages of variable polarity welding and plasma arc welding, and can achieve the most rational heat distribution and cathodic cleaning. With the VPPAW equipment developed by authors, the cathodic cleaning regularity that is one of the most important problems in VPPAW is investigated in this paper. The results will be helpful in realizing the real cleaning mechanism.

Effect of pulsed current micro plasma arc welding process parameters on fusion zone grain size and ultimate tensile strength of Inconel 625 sheets

The paper focuses on developing mathematical models to predict grain size and ul- timate tensile strength of pulsed current micro plasma arc welded Inconel 625 nickel alloy. Four factors, five levels, central composite rotatable design matrix is used to op- timize the number of experiments. The mathematical models have been developed by response surface method. The adequacy of the models is checked by analysis of vari- ance technique. By using the developed mathematical models, grain size and ultimate tensile strength of the joints can be predicted with 99% confidence level. Contour plots are drawn to study the interaction effect of pulsed current micro plasma arc welding parameters on fusion zone grain size and ultimate tensile strength of Inconel 625 weld joints.

Simultaneous observation of keyhole and weld pool in plasma arc welding with a single cost-effective sensor

The dynamic behaviors of the keyhole and weld pool are coupled together in plasma arc welding, and the geometric variations of both the keyhole and the weld pool determine the weld quality. It is of great significance to simultaneously sense and monitor the keyhole and the weld pool behaviors by using a single low-cost vision sensor in plasma arc welding process. In this study, the keyhole and weld pool were observed and measured under different levels of welding current by using the near infrared sensing technology and the charge coupled device （CCD） sensing system. The shapes and relative position of weld pool and keyhole under different conditions were compared and analyzed. The observation results lay solid foundation for controlling weld quality and understanding the underlying process mechanisms.