A simplified 2-D model for the linear GTA welding of stainless steel plates

A simplified heat and fluid flow model has been used to solve the Gas Tungsten Arc (GTA) linear welding problem for austenitic stainless steel. In this study, an equivalent 2-D (two-dimensional) transient heat and fluid flow model has been used to study the effect of controlled boundary conditions with free bottom surface and with bottom insulation. The governing equations have been solved by a finite volume method. The peak temperature, maximum velocity in the weld pool, weld bead width and depth get reduced when the bottom surface of the stainless steel plate is insulated. Copyright � 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.