Effect of laser scan speed on melt pool evolution during selective laser melting

Abstract

In this paper, we present a numerical model for simulating the melting and solidification of a binary alloy during a selective laser melting process. The model is based on the enthalpy-porosity method which has been suitably modified to accommodate for simultaneous melting and solidification. The effect of laser is incorporated by using a moving heat source boundary condition. The model also solves for surface tension drive n and buoyancy driven convection which play a prominent part in melt pool evolution. Simulation results show that the model captures the transient melt pool evolution pattern, movement of the melt pool, the nature of convection and the solute segregation a nd final solute distribution. The model is applied to study the effect of laser scan speed on the melt pool shape and convection pattern. � 2018 by the authors of the abstracts.