Weld pool geometry during keyhole laser welding of thin steel sheets

In industrial applications of laser welding it is often essential to obtain full penetration welds at high processing rates using minimal heat input. Keyhole welding meets these requirements when process parameters are kept close to the boundary where complete penetration switches to partial penetration welding. In the present work weld pool behaviour at the edge of the full penetration regime has been studied. Four types of keyhole penetration mode were observed. The first type is a completely developed keyhole through the material thickness and open in the root region, whereas the second type is closed at the root. The third mode is unstable and results in intermittent penetration involving periods of open and closed keyhole conditions interspersed with periods of lack of fusion. The fourth mode is a partial penetration mode. A possible explanation of the weld pool transient behaviour is presented based on three-dimensional reconstructions of the weld pools.