Laser welding of Haynes 188 alloy sheet: Thermal stress analysis

Laser welding of Haynes 188 alloy sheets is carried out. Temperature and stress fields developed in the welding section are predicted numerically incorporating the finite element algorithm. The microstructural changes in the welding region are examined using the optical and electron scanning microscopes. The microhardness variation across the weld zone is measured and associated with the residual stress formed in this region. It is found that the microhardness follows the residual stress distribution in the weld core. The maximum residual stress is less than the elastic limit of the substrate material.