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The energy source characteristics of gas tungsten arc (GTA) strongly depend on the physical property of arc plasma. In welding processes, it has been experimentally confirmed that metal vapour evaporated from a high temperature weld pool drastically changes the property of arc plasma and decreases its temperature. However, the effect of metal vapour on the characteristics of heat flux into a base metal is still not clear owing to the difficulty in experimental studies of arc plasma. In the present paper, the energy source property of helium GTA mixed with metal vapour was numerically analysed. It was found that the intense radiation generated from dense metal vapour decreases heat flux into a base metal and contracts the current density distribution especially near the arc axis.

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Torch plasma arcs have useful high-energy and high-current characteristics. Torch plasma arcs can be flexible even if exposed to high-speed laterally flowing gases. This study measured the length, voltage, input power, heat power and heat efficiency of a torch plasma arc to the anode to elucidate their influence upon the plasma torch arc anode attachment with a high-velocity laterally flowing gas. That velocity was varied from 0 to 60 m s −1 . The axial plasma gas argon flow rates used were 4, 8 and 12 slpm. Consequently, the input power increased about 8000-16 000 W with these lateral gas air velocities. The heat efficiency decreased with lateral gas air velocity from about 50% to 25% at a current of I = 150 A. The torch plasma arc length, L a , was ca 1 cm. The results of this study are applicable for providing electrical power from the ground to high-speed vehicles or vice versa and for reducing anode erosion by anode spot movement.

Pulsed TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding is used to improve the stability and speed of arc welding, and to allow greater control over the heat input to the weld. The temperature and the radiation power density of the pulsed arc vary as a function of time, as does the distribution of metal vapour, and its effects on the arc. A self-consistent two-dimensional model of the arc and electrodes is used to calculate the properties of the arc as a function of time. Self-absorption of radiation is treated by two methods, one taking into account absorption of radiation only within the control volume of emission, and the other taking into account absorption throughout the plasma. The relation between metal vapour and radiation power density is analysed by calculating the iron vapour distribution. The results show that the transport of iron vapour is strongly affected by the fast convective flow during the peak current period. During the base current period, the region containing a low concentration of metal vapour expands because of the low convective flow. The iron vapour distribution does not closely follow the current pulses. The temperature, iron vapour and radiation power density distributions depend on the self-absorption model used. The temperature distribution becomes broader when self-absorption of radiation from all directions is considered.