Fast thermal simulation of WAAM processing: toward manufacturing strategy evaluation

Abstract

Managing the quality of parts produced by the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) process presents a significant challenge, particularly due to the complexity of thermal control. Effective thermal management is crucial for minimizing defects, making fast and accurate thermal simulations essential for testing and optimizing various manufacturing strategies. This article proposes a rapid simulation that decouples the calculation of heat conduction from convection and radiation. The proposed simulation is described and validated against experimental data. The influences of spatial and temporal discretization are examined. In conclusion, this developed approach provides a fast and efficient simulation of a manufacturing strategy for improvement.