Plasma-weld pool interaction in tungsten inert-gas configuration

A three-dimensional (3D) transient model of a transferred argon arc in interaction with an anode material is presented and the results discussed. The model based on a finite volume method is developed using the open software @Saturne distributed by Electricite de France. The 3D model includes the characterization of the plasma gas and of the work piece with a current continuity resolution in the whole domain. Transport and thermodynamic properties are dependent on the local temperature and on the vapours emitted by the eroded material due to the heat flux transferred by the plasma. Drag force, Marangoni force, Laplace and gravity forces are taken into account on the weld pool description. The plasma and the weld pool characteristics are presented and compared with experimental and theoretical results from the literature. For a distance between the two electrodes of d = 5 mm and an applied current intensity of I = 200 A, the vapour concentration is weak. The influence of the parameters used in the Marangoni formulation is highlighted. Finally, in agreement with some authors, we show with this global transient 3D model that it is not necessary to include the voltage drop in the energy balance.