The article discusses the results of tests concerning the effect of parameters used during the basic bead-on-plate laser welding (i.e. location of the laser beam focus, welding rate and linear welding energy) of 4.0 mm thick sheets made of high-strength steel S960QL on the quality and properties of simulated butt joints. The welding tests were performed using a YAG TruDisk 3302 Yb disk laser (TRUMPF) having a maximum output power of 3.3 kW and provided with a head focusing the laser beam spot to a diameter of 200 μm. The simulated butt welded joints were made without the filler metal, using a technique which consisted in the laser beam melting of sheets. Macroscopic and microscopic tests as well as impact strength tests, fractographic tests and microhardness measurements involved the cross-section of the simulated specimens.

doi: 10.17729/ebis.2022.3/4