Numerical simulation of heat-affected zone microstructure in GMAW

The grain size in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of workpieces is an important factor for evaluating the welding quality. The Monte Carlo technique of grain growth in the heat-affected zone of alloy is widely used. A finite element model (FEM) was employed to simulate the temperature field of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) ; the data of thermal cycles were used in the Monte Carlo model to calculate the grain sizes in different welding heat inputs. The equation for the relationship between Monte Carlo Step and real time has been estimated using regression analysis. Then mathematics model of the grain growth could be worked out by both the kinetic model and the Monte Carlo model. The dynamic process of grain growth was simulated by the result of the Monte Carlo model. The experimental result was used to prove the validity of this method in simulating of microstructure.