Simulation Study on the Influence of a Laser Power Change on the Residual Stress of a Laser-Melting RuT300 Valve Seat

Abstract

In order to effectively suppress the cracking induced by the excessive residual stress of a laser-melting RuT300 valve seat, the influence of a laser power change on the residual stress was studied by constructing a finite element simulation model of a new power valve seat. The absorption rate of the laser energy on the surface of the material and the change in thermophysical parameters with temperature were taken into account in the model. The results show that the melting and phase-change-hardening areas can be obtained by the laser-melting process. With the increase in laser power, the peak temperature of the molten pool increased almost linearly. The melting zone area and the phase-change-hardening zone depth increased. When the laser power was increased from 2000 to 2600 W, the peak temperature of the laser-melting RuT300 valve seat increased from 2005.09 to 2641.93 °C, the maximum depth of the melting area increased from 0.55 to 0.86 mm, the maximum width of the melting area increased from 3.42 to 4.21 mm, and the maximum depth of the phase-change-hardening area increased from 0.55 to 0.64 mm. The circumferential residual tensile stress in the melting area was much higher than in the radial and axial directions. Along the laser scanning direction, the residual stress in the melting area increased as a whole, and the residual stress in the laser-scanning finishing area greatly increased. With the increase in laser power, the circumferential residual stress at the previous scanning moment decreased, and at the closing moment of the scan, the circumferential residual stress increased with the increase in laser power.