Analysis of the Impact of Acoustic Vibrations on the Laser Beam Remelting Process

Abstract

The article contains an analysis of selected aspects of the structure and properties of laser remelting of low carbon steel supported by acoustic vibrations obtained in the research presented in (A Novel Method of Supporting the Laser Welding Process with Mechanical Acoustic Vibrations). Due to the assumptions made in this publication, it was necessary to deepen the analysis of the obtained results. The correlation of such factors on the structure as the frequency of vibrations (50, 100, 1385 Hz), their propagation through the short-lived liquid phase and changes in the structure, chemical composition, and hardness of the characteristic zones of the obtained remelting was considered. The remelting obtained with the participation of resonant acoustic vibrations with a frequency of 1385 Hz was subjected to thermo-mechanical analysis. A characteristic “bandwidth” pattern was revealed in the structure. In the present article, a thermo-mechanical analysis of the cause of its formation was carried out by comparing it with the remelting obtained at lower frequencies. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the band structure was characterized by 7 to 8 areas up to approximately a 90 µm depth, which showed dark and light zones. These areas differed in carbon content, hardness, and width. The analysis of vibration propagation helped to determine that in the time of crystallization of the molten metal pool, the transition of the vibration wave lasted through 7–8 minima and maxima. This fact allows us to assume with a high probability that it is the result of the applied resonance frequency.