Advantages of FE-simulation for the development of a welding procedure for quartz glass

Michael Göbel, Jörg Hildebrand and Frank Werner, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Inst. of Structural Engineering, Chair of Steel Structures

The laser beam welding of quartz glass represents an innovative alternative to traditional oxyacetylene welding. The application of this technology allows an economic bonding of quartz glass components, which raises the standards of joint qualities to a new level. In a research project, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar analyzes the CO2-laser beam welding of quartz glass elements numerically and experimentally in co-operation with different industry partners. The development of a ready to market and effective procedure of the laser beam welding of quartz glass is the mayor goal of the project, under use of experimental results and utilisation of highly modern numerical calculation models. Thereby, an extensive pool of experience can be accessed in the field of welding process simulation of metals. In co-operation with the Institute of Joining Technology and Materials Testing GmbH, experimental weldings with different laser adjustments and quartz glass plate thicknesses were carried out.

The numerical simulation uses a three-dimensional model, which also includes physical non-linearity. Therefore, the specialised FEM software SYSWELD® is used. The numerical Finite Element Method analysis allows to calculate the thermal and mechanical processes within the quartz glass during the welding operation and the cooling. In further analyses, the influence of material vaporisation, which is caused by the strong energy entry of the laser beam on the upper side of the weld, was tested. The positioning of filler material is a possibility to compensate these material losses, which is inserted into the seam during the welding process. Corresponding numerical analyses allow statements about the required welding technique. This is very helpful to accelerate the progress of the development of this innovative joining technique.

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The Authors

Mr. Michael Göbel Dipl.-Ing. Bauhaus-Universität Weimar My research in welding of quartz glass started during my diploma in 2004. At our University we perform numerical simulations about welding processes and one new welding process is the laser beam weld... Read more