Effects of weld cross-section profiles and microstructure on properties of pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding of Ti6Al4V sheet

In this study, the influence of weld cross-sectional profiles and microstructure, under different welding conditions, was investigated on the mechanical properties of pulsed Nd:YAG laser-welded joint of Ti6A14V alloy. The V- and H-shaped weld cross-section profiles were obtained under low and high heat input, respectively. The microstructure in the fusion zone (FZ) of V- and H-shaped welded joint consisted of a fine acicular martensitic α′ solidification structure within the prior-β grains, responsible for the maximum hardness in the FZ. Tensile tests revealed that the V-shaped welded joint fractured at the near heat-affected zone (HAZ)/base metal (BM) interface, but the H-shaped welded joint fractured in the BM. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the V-shaped welded joint was lower than that of the H-shaped welded joint. This was attributed to the fact that the heterogeneity of strain distribution at the interface of HAZ and BM of the V-shaped welded joint was greater than that of the H-shaped welded joint during tensile process.