A Comparison Between Three- and Two-Dimensional Thermal Finite Element Analysis of the Gas Metal Arc Welding Process

Predictions of transient temperature distributions in welding can help the selection of welding process parameters that minimize residual stresses. A three-dimensional (3D) thermal finite element model of bead-on-plate gas metal are welding (GMAW) is presented and is used to evaluate a cross-sectional, two-dimensional (2D) counterpart model. While the thermomechanical problem of welding is 3D in nature, it is shown that the 2D model can provide temperature field predictions comparable to those of the 3D model, even though the 2D model tends to predict peak temperatures higher than those of the 3D model. Both types of model predictions are compared to welding test measurements.Copyright © 2003 by ASME