Title: Laser transmission welding of polycarbonate: a finite element analysis

Authors: Sekou Singare; Chen Shengui; Zhong Shouyan; Zhong Huanhuan

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, Dongguan 523808, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, Dongguan 523808, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, Dongguan 523808, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, Dongguan 523808, China

Abstract: The influence of welding speed on temperature distribution during laser transmission welding of polycarbonate was investigated in the present research work. A three-dimensional thermal model was developed to simulate the laser transmission contour welding process with a moving heat source. Temperature distribution analysis in welded joint was performed in the ABAQUS/standard solver. Power distribution of moving heat source was implemented into DFLUX subroutine, written in FORTRAN programming language. The heat input to the model is assumed to be a volumetric Gaussian heat source. Temperature dependent physical properties of the materials are taken into account during modelling. Combined heat transfer boundary condition, based on natural convection and radiation, is imposed on model exteriors, which are exposed to surroundings. Temperature distribution in the weld zone was numerically estimated. The weld strength and microstructure of the lap weld were determined experimentally. All samples were subjected to a destructive force test using universal testing machine, following the tensile test, the weld width depth was measured using microscope. The experiment result is validated by finite element method (FEM).

Keywords: laser transmission welding; LTW; finite element analysis; FEA; 3D modelling; process parameters; polycarbonate; welding speed; temperature distribution; simulation; heat transfer boundary condition; natural convection; radiation; weld zone temperature; weld strength; lap weld microstructure; tensile testing; laser welding.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2015.073555

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, 2015 Vol.8 No.5/6, pp.207 - 222

Received: 27 Jan 2014
Accepted: 05 Oct 2014

Published online: 12 Dec 2015 *

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