An Investigation of the Influence of Keyhole Laser Welding Parameters on Weld Bead Shape and Integrity
Ömer Ekinci John Francis Zülküf BALALAN
AbstractThe purpose in this study was to investigate the effects of keyhole laser welding parameters (laser beam power, laser welding speed, and heat input) on weld bead shape and integrity such as fusion zone and heat affected zone. Hence, butt-joint keyhole laser welding practices were conducted on S700 steel plates thickness of 13 mm by applying various laser beam power and welding speed with a 16 kW Ytterbium fibre laser and using pure argon as shielding gas in the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory of The University of Machester. The weld crosssections were examined under an optical microscope and widths of fusion zone, coarse grained heat affected zone and intercritical heat affected zone were measured and also defects that occurred during welding were determined based on laser beam power and welding speed. As a result, effects of laser beam power and laser welding speed on fusion zone width and heat affected zone width were plotted and results were compared with previous studies published.