ARC CHARACTERISTICS IN GAS-METAL ARC-WELDING OF ALUMINUM USING ARGON AS THE SHIELDING GAS

A mathematical model has been developed describing transport phenomena in gas-metal arc welding. In the statement of the model a cylindrical electrode was considered and attention was concentrated on representi ng the electrodynamic, heat-transfer, and fluid-flow phenomena in the plasma column. Solutions were generated for the axisymmetric Maxwell's equations, Navier-Stokes Stokes equations, and thermal-energy balance equation for variable properties. The specific system considered invo lved the use of an aluminum electrode and argon as the shielding gas. Several current levels were explored and the theoretical predictions o f temperatures were found to be in good agreement with spectroscopical ly measured temperatures. This appears to have been the first time tha t gas-metal arc-welding problems were treated in such a fundamental ma nner.