A new approach to compute multi-reflections of laser beam in a keyhole for heat transfer and fluid flow modelling in laser welding

It is widely accepted that laser reflections can play a critical role during keyhole laser welding. The energy concentration, the mask effects and the laser polarization can directly affect the molten pool dynamic. In this paper a new approach to compute laser reflections is proposed which consists of treating laser under its wave form by solving Maxwell's equations. The method has the advantage to be easily coupled with heat transfer and fluid flow equations and can be immediately transposable in any 2D, 2D axi or 3D configurations. The reliability and limits of this approach are discussed through different numerical examples. The complete model takes into account the three phases of the matter: the vaporized metal, the liquid phase and the solid base. To predict the evolution of these three phases, coupled equations of energy, continuity, momentum and Maxwell are solved. The liquid/vapour interface is tracked using the level-set method. All these physics are solved simultaneously with the commercial code COMSOL Multiphysics (R). The calculated temperatures, velocities and free surface deformation are analysed. Examples of simulations leading to the formation of porosity are also presented. Finally, melt pool shapes evolution are compared to experimental macrographs.