Research on the thermo-mechanical coupled numerical simulation of laser cladding 316L+H13/20%WC composite coatings on H13 steel surface

Laser cladding is often used for surface modification or remanufacturing of H13 hot working dies. Thermo-mechanical coupled numerical simulation of laser cladding 316L+H13/20%WC composite coatings on H13 steel surface has been carried out. Distribution of the temperature field and cooling rate of the melt pool, residual stress varied with the process parameters as well as strain along different directions has been obtained. Results showed that the maximum temperature gradient was located in the bottom of the 316L cladding layer and reached 10⁶ °C/m, while the cooling rate of the melt pool has reached 10³ °C/s. The plastic strain in the scanning direction was the largest, and the cladding layer was more prone to crack in the direction perpendicular to the scanning speed. Laser cladding experiments were conducted on the surface of H13 steel using parameters obtained by numerical simulation. Dense and defects free composite cladding layers has been obtained.