Gas flow in the column of a TIG welding arc

Gas motion in the column of a TIG welding arc is described by assuming a gaussian form for the radial dependence of the axial velocity. Momentum equations are then solved with magnetic, viscous and gravitational body forces. The predicted dependence of axial velocity on arc length and current is in good agreement with experimentally measured values which have been obtained by manometrically observing the pressure distribution at the anode of a TIG arc. Particular attention is given to the effect of electrode characteristics and ambient pressure on gas flow.