Droplet Acceleration In The Arc

Abstract

This paper simulates the acceleration of the droplet in the arc during gas metal arc welding process. After a droplet is detached from the electrode, it is accelerated in the high temperature and high velocity arc to the workpiece. The droplet is subjected to several forces, such as the arc plasma shear stress, arc pressure force, surface tension force, gravity force, and electromagnetic force. A comprehensive model is used to simulate the changes of droplet shape, temperature, and velocity during the acceleration in the arc. The transient interaction of droplet and arc plasma is through coupled boundary conditions, thus, no assumptions are needed to simulate the droplet acceleration. The simulated results were compared with the published experimental data and an agreement was found.