Numerical analysis of laser-welded flange pipe joints in lap and fillet configurations

This article presents a numerical analysis of laser-welded flange pipe joints. The presented results concern the welding of low carbon S235JR and stainless 316L steels using a CO₂ laser in lap and fillet joint configurations. The estimation of welding parameters was achieved using Simufact Welding software and numerical simulation, where output power, feed rate, efficiency and intensity distribution (Gaussian parameter) were analysed. In accordance with the established model, a thermo-mechanical simulation was performed. The calculated joint geometries show good agreement with experiments; therefore, the obtained results were used to study selected joint properties of both joint types. Stress-strain distribution was estimated on the basis of thermo-mechanical analysis. Weld bead geometry obtained from numerical simulation was compared with the results from trial joints. The numerical model established for both joint configurations shows good agreement with experimental results and were assumed to be accurate. The results of the performed analysis shown some advantages of the use of this configuration of lap joints in flange pipe joints.