Combination of induction and laser cladding and its 3D computer model

A 3D model of combined induction and laser cladding is presented. This electroheat process is characterized by time-varying geometry because of material added in the form of metal powder in order to form the clad. The paper brings a novel approach to its modeling which required expensive remeshing of the whole investigated domain in every time step. The offered technique is based on local adaptive refinement of the existing mesh that allows detailed mapping of distribution of temperature in the thermally exposed domain and assigning the correct parameters of the present material. In this way it is possible to distinguish both solid and liquid phases and also (after cooling and solidification) the final shape of the clad that is not known in advance. The methodology is illustrated with a typical example whose results are discussed.