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Mechanism of Gap Bridgeability in Lap-Fillet Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding

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Abstract

Laser-arc hybrid welding is known for its superior joint strength relative to arc welding and its ability to fill the gap that laser welding cannot otherwise fill. The role of laser-arc interaction in filling the lap-fillet joint is the point of investigation in this article. The effect of the laser and arcing parameters on the weld's formation is tested experimentally with the variable gap between the plates. The arc and laser parameters play a significant role in bridging the gap. For example, appropriate process parameters, such as low welding speed and moderate to high welding current, can bridge the gap up to 1 mm. Sufficient laser power is essential to improve the gap bridgeability. A low power laser preheats the base plate that helps spread the molten material at the cost of filling the gap. An increase in laser power increases the throat thickness and improves the gap bridgeability in a lap-fillet joint. In one way, the lower leg length is the manifestation of increased throat thickness due to the material passing by the gap. In one of the first of its type, the investigation explains the ability to close the gap based on process parameters. The mechanism of the gap bridgeability is deduced based on the material flow in the lap-fillet weld pool.

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Acknowledgements

This investigation is carried out through collaboration between JWRI, Osaka University (within the JIJReC Program 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020) and KU Leuven (within Startfinanciering project: Heat sources’ interaction in hybrid laser welding (3E200078)).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering Technology, Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium

    Abhay Sharma

  2. Joining & Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

    Abhay Sharma, Manabu Tanaka & Tetsuo Suga

  3. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, India

    Uttam Kumar Mohanty

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  1. Abhay Sharma
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  2. Uttam Kumar Mohanty
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Correspondence to Abhay Sharma.

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Sharma, A., Mohanty, U.K., Tanaka, M. et al. Mechanism of Gap Bridgeability in Lap-Fillet Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding. Lasers Manuf. Mater. Process. 8, 355–371 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40516-021-00150-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40516-021-00150-6

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