3D Finite Element Simulation to Predict the ...

Direct Laser Fabrication (DLF) is a rapid manufacturing process based on laser cladding technique in which parts are fabricated layer by layer. In this work, a coaxial nozzle is used to deposit 316L stainless steel on a low carbon steel substrate. In order to obtain a 3D simulation with reasonable computation time, the thermal and geometrical problems are decoupled. The clad geometry is supposed to be a half cylinder which corresponds to a suitable geometry to built a part layer by layer. The finite element method is used to simulate the heat conduction in the part during the process with a 3D modelling using the Arbitrary Langrangian-Eulerian (ALE) in (Multiphysics Comsol 3.5). This model allows predicting the temperature field in the part during the process.