Estimation of the Heat Flux Parameters : Application to GTA Static Welding Spot

International audienceA numerical magneto-thermo-hydrodynamic (MTHD) model coupled with an inverse optimizationmethod is developed for the identification of heat flux parameters for the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding(GTAW) process. The MTHD model is based on the four conservation equations of mass, momentum(Navier-Stokes equations), energy (heat transfer) and electric potential. The stated MTHD includes theforce term due to magnetic field in the momentum equation (Lorentz force). The transport phenomenaand the heat transfer from the electrical arc plasma to the weld pool determine the weld penetration andthe weld pool shape. In the current study an attempt has been made to replace the argon electrical arcplasma effect with a heat flux modelled by a Gaussian function on the anode surface. The majorparameters that influence the formation of weld pool shape were identified using a parametric study andare welding efficiency and base radius of the Gaussian distribution. A multivariable optimizationalgorithm based on Levenberg-Marquardt Method is used for the inverse problem. It is concluded thatalgorithm developed were able to predict the reference numerical model and demonstrated the stabilityand robustness of the algorithm using a noised input data