Three-dimensional finite element modeling of laser cladding by powder injection: Effects of powder feedrate and travel speed on the process

This article addresses a novel three-dimensional transient finite element model of the laser cladding by powder injection process. The proposed model can predict clad geometry as a function of time and process parameters including beam velocity, laser power, powder jet geometry, laser pulse shaping, and material properties. In the proposed method, the interaction between powder and melt pool are assumed to be decoupled and as a result, the melt pool boundary is first obtained in the absence of powder spray. Once the melt pool boundary is calculated, it is assumed that a layer of coating material based on powder feedrate and elapsed time is deposited on the intersection of the melt pool and powder stream in the absence of laser beam. The new melt pool boundary is then calculated by thermal analysis of the deposited powder layer, substrate and laser heat flux. The results of numerical modeling for different process velocities and different powder feedrates are presented and compared with experimental results. The comparisons show a good agreement between the modeling and experimental geometry of the clads. (C) 2003 Laser Institute of America.