Advancing precision welding through computational modeling with FLOW-3D WELD

Producing high-strength, leak-proof welds is critical for aerospace manufacturing where flight safety is first priority. Hermetic seals are often needed to protect sensitive components and require precise heat delivery and uniform fusion. Joining dissimilar materials such as Ti64 to IN718 for jet engine components is challenging due to different melting temperatures and thermal expansion. Simulation of laser welding that accounts for melt pool dynamics, vaporization, and solidification provides the information needed to understand how process parameters affect weld quality enabling process optimization.

FLOW-3D WELD is a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software used to predict complex behavior during laser melting of metallic alloys. This presentation will discuss applications in which CFD simulations have been used to design weld schedules and eliminate defects in welded joints that use nickel, copper, titanium, and steel alloys.