AXISYMMETRICAL LASER-WELDING OF CERAMIC AND METALLIC MATERIALS - FINITE-ELEMENT MODELING

In this paper, finite element techniques are used to model laser spot welding of both metallic and ceramic materials. The materials modelled were aluminum and alumina, a typical ceramic. In the formulation, the steady state mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations are co nsidered with surface tension and buoyancy forces driving the fluid ho w. The results indicate that fluid flow must be considered in order to accurately model molten pool characteristics for ceramics since the c oupling of fluid flow to heat flow is more important for ceramics than for metals.