About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T25: Materials Science & Technology
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| Symposium
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Materials and Manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit (and Beyond)
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| Presentation Title |
Numerical Modeling of Laser Beam Welding for In-Space Applications: Insights from Parabolic Flight Experiments |
| Author(s) |
Will R. McAuley, Aaron Brimmer, Eugene Choi, Kaue Riffel, Ali Nassiri, Boyd Panton, Antonio Ramirez |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Will R. McAuley |
| Abstract Scope |
Laser beam welding (LBW) offers promise for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), but its performance in microgravity and vacuum remains underexplored. This study advances the field by integrating experimental data from parabolic flight campaigns in 2024 and 2025 with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations of in-space welding. Aerospace alloys such as aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium were welded under microgravity in a modified vacuum chamber, with thermal sensors and cameras capturing melt pool behavior and spatter dynamics. These datasets informed FEM models that simulate thermal gradients, melt pool morphology, and solidification under space-like conditions. By calibrating simulations with real-world flight data, the research enhances understanding of how reduced gravity influences weld quality. This work contributes to Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) for space applications and supports the future qualification of LBW as a key technology for uncrewed missions and on-orbit construction, bridging experimental observations and predictive modeling.
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