Prediction of welding distortions and residual stresses considering pre-heating, pre-stress and contact conditions in axial circular laser-beam welds

Pre-heating, pre-stress and contact conditions in the seam have an effect on distortion and residual stresses and must be considered in welding simulations. In the cooperative project LaserPowerTrain, funded by the German Government (BMBF), these effects are fully integrated in numerical simulations for circular welded components. The paper describes modelling and results of numerical simulations of a gear wheel and a gear output shaft, which have been welded by laser beam in axial direction.