A Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Inconel 625 Electron-Beam Welding – Thermal Aspects

Abstract Inconel 625, a nickel based superalloy, finds application in many fields. It is known to have a good weldability and it is often used in the as-welded conditions, heat treatments could be necessary to relief stresses. Numerous variables are known to affect the residual stresses field: welding process, joined geometry and clamping conditions. Since experimental measurements based on X-ray diffraction are not straightforward, expensive experimental work could be substituted by numerical simulation. Before performing an elastoplastic simulation, thermal analysis results are needed, first. This paper focus on the thermal analysis procedure. The analysis has been validated by means of macrographs and with thermocouples data. The heat source was successfully modelled using a superimposition of a spherical and a conical shape heat source with Gaussian power density distribution in order to reproduce the nail shape of the fusion zone. Heat source parameters were chosen so that the model would match with experimentally determined weld pool shape and temperatures. Preliminary results of the metallurgical analysis are also presented.