About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials Research in Reduced Gravity
|
| Presentation Title |
Weld Pool Confinement in Microgravity |
| Author(s) |
Valdis Bojarevics, Koulis Pericleous |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Valdis Bojarevics |
| Abstract Scope |
The ability to manufacture spare parts directly in space, without having to transport them from Earth, is a necessary prerequisite for future space exploration. Welding and, by extension, metal additive manufacturing are essential processes for repairs and the construction of intricate components in situ. The absence of gravity causes particular problems since the melt pool tends to acquire a spherical shape and detach from the weld substrate as surface tension dominates. With the Laser Metal Wire Deposition process as a particular example, we investigate numerically the use of a supporting high-frequency induction coil to force the metal in place and control the shape of the weld pool as it solidifies. The study compares microgravity with positive and negative gravity values in terms of bead shape, solidification time, and addresses the laser keyhole effect that leads to trapped gas bubbles, which are difficult to eliminate in the absence of gravity. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Computational Materials Science & Engineering, Process Technology |