Numerical-experimental validation of the welding thermal cycle carried out with the MIG welding process on a 6063-T5 aluminium tubular profile

The purpose of this work is to validate the thermal welding cycle obtained experimentally with the metal inert gas (MIG) welding process on a 6063-T5 aluminium tubular profile using the finite element method. The assembly formed by the tubular profile and the weld bead obtained experimentally is represented in an accurate way, taking care of both the geometry and the contour of the weld bead. The precision achieved in the numerical-experimental validation carried out by means of the finite element method is due to the care that has been taken in drawing the welded piece together with the weld bead made experimentally. In the validation carried out, the experimental and numerical cooling curves and the critical cooling time between 400 and 300?C (t4/3 ) in both curves are compared.