Evaluation of Residual Stresses Using Laser-Generated SAWs on Surface of Laser-Welding Plates

摘要

In this paper, residual stresses in laser-welding plates are studied by both numerical simulation and experiment based on laser ultrasonics. First, a three-dimensional finite-element model is developed to predict temperature distributions and thermo-structure response during the laser-welding process of an aluminum alloy plate, and the residual stresses around the joint are described from structure analysis. After that, experiments based on surface acoustic waves generated by a pulsed laser are carried out to determine the velocity distribution of SAWs around the joint, from which the distribution of main residual stresses are calculated according to acoustoelastic theory. By comparing the thermal-structure model results with the measurements, it is found that the numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data.