A comparison between two different numerical formulations of welding arc simulation

摘要

A mathematical model was developed to simulate gas tungsten arc welding in order to compare two distinct numerical formulations to represent the electromagnetic problem in welding arcs, i.e. the 'potential' and the 'magnetic' approaches. Both formulations, representing the same physics but mathematically and numerically different, are tested against each other and against some experimental measurements available and other numerical studies reported in the literature. The major differences between the two formulations were found in predicting the magnetic and the current density fields. In general, the magnetic approach seems to be more straightforward to implement but the potential approach shows superiority in predicting isotherms, current and heat flux densities at the anode, since they show better agreement with experimental measurements. In view of the experience developed and the analysis carried out in this paper, it is clear to the authors that employing the potential formulation results in an easier, more convenient, and numerically better-behaved approach to represent welding arcs. [References: 30]