A NUMERICAL-ANALYSIS OF A STATIONARY GAS TUNGSTEN WELDING ARC CONSIDERING VARIOUS ELECTRODE ANGLES

The influences of parameters such as electrode angle, welding current and are length on the gas tungsten are welding process using Ar shield ing gas were studied assuming the current density distribution along t he cathode surface. Its distribution was assumed to have a Gaussian fo rm, which is characterized by the maximum current density at the elect rode tip or the distribution parameter. For determining these two valu es according to the electrode angle and welding current, the temperatu re distributions of a 60-deg angle electrode were calculated for 100, 200 and 300 A welding currents and compared with the experimental meas urements obtained by previous research. Using these assumed current de nsity distributions as the boundary condition for the current continui ty equation, the heat flux and current density on the base plate were calculated for various influencing parameters and compared with the ex perimental results obtained under the same welding conditions. Further more, other transporting phenomena acting on the anode plate, such as are pressure and shear stress, were calculated.