Study on Welding Hot Cracking Suppression Mechanism of High-strength Aluminum Alloys with Synchronous Banded Thermal Field

doi:10.3901/JME.260526

Abstract

Abstract: Based on mechanical principles and the flexible control concept, a novel method was proposed to suppress welding hot cracking in thin high-strength Al-Li alloy plates using a synchronous banded thermal field. A symmetric synchronous banded thermal field applied behind the molten pool induced base metal expansion, which extruded the solidifying weld metal in the brittle temperature range, generating transient transverse compressive stress perpendicular to the weld center to offset the tensile stress during cooling. For 1.5 mm-thick trapezoidal 2050 Al-Li alloy plates, laser welding experiments combined with finite element simulations were conducted to explore the offsetting effects of thermal field spacing (4-14 mm) and temperature (200-500 ℃) on the transient stress field and stress at the weld center. Simulation results showed that higher temperature or smaller spacing increased the compressive stress; optimal crack suppression was achieved at 10 mm spacing and approximately 300 °C. Welding tests agreed well with simulations, verifying the accuracy of the in-situ control model.

Key words: high-strength aluminum alloys, welding hot cracking, synchronous banded thermal field, temperature field, welding transverse stress

CLC Number:

TG404

ZHOU Guangtao, QIAN Chen, SU Linfen, GUO Yulong, DING Baixiong, SU Liji. Study on Welding Hot Cracking Suppression Mechanism of High-strength Aluminum Alloys with Synchronous Banded Thermal Field[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2026, 62(14): 188-197.

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URL: http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/10.3901/JME.260526

http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/Y2026/V62/I14/188

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