Abstract
The application of the laser welding to the construction of the building frame of a nuclear plant is proposed. High dimension accuracy is required in the nuclear plant structures, but it is much difficult to satisfy the high accuracy due to welding deformation. So, it is necessary to optimize the welding process to reduce the welding deformation. Prediction of welding deformation by trial production increases the material and labor costs. So, it is necessary to predict the welding deformation and optimize the weld process to satisfy the dimension accuracy by analysis. In this study, the heat source model has been developed to predict the laser welding deformation with high accuracy. The heat source model has been developed by comparing the experimental and analysis results. In the experiment, the plate of austenitic stainless steel (Type316LN) was butt-welded using laser. The angular deformation, the transverse shrinkage, the temperature and the penetration shape of the cross section of the laser welded plate were measured. The penetration shape like a wine cup was not able to be reproduced by using only Conical heat source, but by combining the Conical and Goldak heat sources(1,2) and by optimizing the heat input efficiency. The developed analysis technique has predicted laser welding deformation with high accuracy.
