Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261

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Optics & Laser Technology

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Full length article

Twin-spot laser welding of advanced high-strength multiphase MARK

microstructure steel

Adam Grajcara, , Mateusz Morawieca, Maciej Raskib, Sebastian Stanob
a
Silesian University of Technology, Institute of Engineering Materials and Biomaterials, 18a Konarskiego Street, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
b
Institute of Welding, 16-18 Bl. Czesawa Street, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

A R T I C L E I N F O A BS T RAC T

Keywords: The study addresses the results concerning the laser welding of TRIP (TRansformation Induced Plasticity) steel
Twin-spot laser welding using a beam focused at two spots (also referred to as twin-spot laser welding). The analysis involved the eect
Multiphase steel of variable welding thermal cycles on the properties and microstructure of welded joints. The tests were
Dual beam performed using a linear energy of 0.048 and 0.060 kJ/mm and the laser beam power distribution of 50%:50%,
Microstructure
60%:40% and 70%:30%. The tests also involved welding performed using a linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm and
Hardness prole
the laser beam power distribution of 70%:30%. In addition, the research included observations of the
microstructure of the fusion zone, heat aected zone and the transition zone using light microscopy and
scanning electron microscopy. The fusion zone was composed of blocky-lath martensite whereas the HAZ (heat-
aected zone) was characterised by the lath microstructure containing martensite, bainite and retained
austenite. The distribution of twin-spot laser beam power signicantly aected the microstructure and hardness
proles of welded joints. The highest hardness (480505 HV), regardless of welding variants used, was
observed in the HAZ.

1. Introduction One of innovative welding methods is twin-spot laser welding. The

Presently, Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), including Dual
Phase (DP), CP (Complex Phase) and TRIP steels are the most
prospective sheet steels used in the automotive industry. Because of
their high strength, the steels enable the use of thin-walled sections in
modern car bodies, signicantly reducing the weight of a vehicle.
Particular attention should be paid to TRIP steels due to the strain-
induced transformation of retained austenite into martensite taking
place during their sheet forming [15]. As a result, it is possible to use
AHSS when making sections of highly complicated shapes enabling the
safety improvement by increasing the amount of absorbed collision
energy [68].
One of the principal joining methods used in the automotive
industry is laser welding. For this reason, it is important to know the
phenomena and transformations taking place in the microstructure of
steels subjected to laser welding. Research concerning the eect of
various laser conditions on the weldability of high strength steels is
currently very extensive [914]. Another important aspect is the
presence of non-metallic inclusions formed during laser welding. The
presence of the inclusions results from the chemical composition of
steel and the welding atmosphere where the process is performed [15].
twin-spot laser beam is obtained by the coupling of two welding
stations or by using a special optical system in the laser head [16].
Presently, the twin-spot laser beam is used when welding galvanised
steels, light metals (e.g. aluminium alloys) [17] and when joining steels
with non-ferrous metals [18]. Milberg and Trautmann [19] showed
that the dual beam laser welding of zinc-coated steels increased the
quality of welds. The welds without underlling, evaporation of
material and spatters were obtained. Therefore, in case of twin-spot
laser welding the decrease in the thermal cycle dynamics resulting from
the use of the second beam may improve the quality of welded joints
through the favourable eect on the microstructure and hardness of
steels. However, because available publications do not refer to cases
involving the use of this method when welding TRIP steels, the authors
performed tests concerning the twin-spot laser beam welding of TRIP
steels. The aim was to identify the eect of the method on the
mechanical properties and microstructure of welded joints.
2. Experimental
The chemical composition of the investigated TRIP steel subjected
to the tests is presented in Table 1. The sulphur and phosphorus

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: adam.grajcar@polsl.pl (A. Grajcar).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2017.01.011
Received 13 October 2016; Received in revised form 3 January 2017; Accepted 14 January 2017
Available online 21 January 2017
0030-3992/ 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A. Grajcar et al.
Table 1
Chemical composition of the TRIP steel, wt%.
C Mn Si Al Nb Ti N S
0.24 1.55 0.87 0.40 0.034 0.023 0.0028 0.004
contents are at low levels because the laboratory melts were produced
using the induction vacuum furnace. The phosphorus is dissolved
whereas sulphur is xed as manganese sulphides [15]. Laser welding
was performed on a 2 mm thick and 100 mm wide steel sheet. The steel
was thermo-mechanically processed and controlled-cooled directly
from the nishing rolling temperature. In order to stabilize retained
austenite, the steel was held at a temperature of 350 C for 600 s to
obtain the incomplete bainite transformation phenomenon. The de-
tailed results of microstructural tests after the thermomechanical
rolling can be found elsewhere [5].
The steel subjected to analysis was characterised by the reduced
content of silicon, if compared to traditional TRIP steels containing
approximately 1.5% Si. The reduced content of silicon results from its
negative eect on the hot-dip galvanising process. In order to com-
pensate the shortage of silicon, the steel was provided with approxi-
mately 0.4% aluminium, which, similar to silicon, prevents the
precipitation of carbides during the bainitic transformation (the
carbides adversely reduce the fraction of retained austenite).
Microadditions of Ti and Nb were added in order to improve the
mechanical properties of the steel using the renement eect through
the dispersive carbonitrides and precipitation hardening. The metal-
lurgical weldability of the steel was preliminary assessed using the Eq.
(1) enabling the identication of the carbon equivalent of the steel
(Ceq=0.54%).
Mn Si Ni Cr Mo
Ceq = C + + + + + [%]
6 24 40 5 4
The twin-spot laser welding tests were performed at the Welding
Institute, Gliwice, using a solid state laser integrated with a robotic
system for laser processing. This laboratory test rig satises the
requirements of most advanced industrial rigs and is equipped with a
TruDisk 12002 laser, i.e. a Yb: YAG solid-state laser (Trumpf) having a
maximum power of 12 kW and laser beam quality designated by the
parameter of BPP 8 mm mrad. The power stability on nominal power
is 1%. The laser is provided with the system enabling the control of 4
optical outputs, making it possible to lead four independent optical
bres via four independent optical paths out of the resonator and to
programme the selection of an optical bre to be used for the
transmission of a laser beam. The principal part of the laser is a CFO
head (Trumpf) used for single-spot laser welding. The head was
connected to the laser source using an optical bre having a diameter
of 200 m and focusing lens having a focal length of fog =300 mm. The
diameter of the laser beam focus amounted to 300 m.
The twin-spot laser welding tests were performed using a rig
equipped with a D70 head (Trumpf) provided with a system enabling
the twin-spot focusing of a laser beam. The distribution of power
density between two focuses was monitored using a UFF100 laser
beam analyser (Prometec). The tests also involved the selection of an
optical bre and a laser beam focusing lens with a laser beam focus of
0.6 mm in diameter.
In order to ensure the precise positioning of the laser beam during
welding, the sheet was xed to the table (constituting an integral part of
the rig) using eccentric clamps. The tests were performed using argon
as the shielding gas. The determination of the eect of laser beam
power distribution on the microstructure and hardness involved the
selection of 7 welding protocols. All of the welding variants are
presented in Table 2.
Obtaining two focuses of the laser beam in solid-state lasers (with
the bre optic transmission of the laser beam to the working head)
Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261
Table 2
Welding protocols in relation to individual process variants.
P No. Beam power, Power distribution, Welding speed, Linear energy,
kW % m/min kJ/mm
0.010
11 6 50:50 7.5 0.048
12 4 50:50 4 0.060
13 6 60:40 7.5 0.048
14 4 60:40 4 0.060
15 6 70:30 7.5 0.048
16 4 70:30 4 0.060
17 2 70:30 0.8 0.150
varies depending on manufacturers of laser heads and expected
adjustment of parameters related to the obtainment of two laser beam
focusing points. The most popular solution involves the splitting of a
laser beam from one optical bre using a special optical module. The
schematic beam power distribution and expected thermal cycles are
presented in Fig. 1. The laser beam distribution was obtained by
placing a special optical module across the laser beam, thus splitting it
and changing its trajectory. Afterwards, the beam is focused on two
spots by standard focusing lenses. The distance between the focuses of
the laser beam is aected by the inclination of the optical module plane.
The laser beam power distribution is inuenced by the position of the
optical module in relation to the laser beam (Fig. 1). The maximum
distance between the beam focuses adopted when making the test
joints amounted to 4 mm.
The tests have been performed with the beam power distribution of
50:50; 60:40 and 70:30 (the rst value denes the percentage fraction
of beam power in the rst focusing point of the tandem system). The
adjustment of laser beam power distribution consisted in the manual
change in the position of the optical module in relation to the laser
beam. Each change entails a change in the density distribution between
(1) two focuses and requires verication. In the tests, the verication of the
actual power density distribution was performed using a UFF100 laser
beam analyser.
The geometry of the welded joint and the microstructure of its
individual zones were identied in macro- and microscopic tests
performed using a MeF4 light microscope manufactured by Leica.
Morphological details were identied using a SUPRA 25 scanning
electron microscope in the BSE observation mode using an accelerating
voltage of 20 kV. Cross-sectional hardness measurements of the welded
joints were performed by means of a KB50BVZ-FA testing machine
manufactured by KB Prftechnik, using an indenter load of 9.81 N
(HV1).
Specimens used in the metallographic tests were prepared in the
plane perpendicular to the weld axis. The specimens were included in
epoxy resin, subjected to grinding by means of abrasive paper having a
granularity of 80, 320, 1000 and 2500 and next to polishing by means
of diamond and corundum slurry. The microstructure of the specimen
was revealed by etching in 3% Nital and then in aqueous solution of
sodium pyrosulphate to identify better retained austenite in the
microstructure.
The hardness measurements were carried out in a middle part of
the welds. The force was set to 9.81 N and the step used for this
measurement was 0.15 mm for all the welds.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Microstructure of base material
The microstructure of the base material consists of the ne-grained
mixture of ferrite, bainitic-austenitic islands, martensite and a certain
fraction of retained austenite (Fig. 2). It can be seen that the retained
austenite is present within the bainitic areas (in the form of layers of
various thicknesses) as well as on the edges of bainitic and martensitic
53
A. Grajcar et al.
Fig. 1. A schematic of the optical system showing the eect of optical lens change on a power distribution (a) and a projected thermal cycle of twin-spot welding (b).
Fig. 2. Microstructure of the base material identied using the scanning electron
microscope (SEM).
grains. The occurrence of retained austenite has a very benecial eect
on nal microstructure-property relationships of TRIP steels [13].
Unfortunately, this multiphase microstructure is destroyed when
welding is applied.
3.2. Macrostructure changes
The analysis of the eect of twin-spot laser beam welding on the
structure and properties of welded joints involved macrostructural
tests and measurements of the individual zones of welded joints. The
obtained welds were of a good quality without any welding defects such
as underling or material evaporation. In relation to all laser protocols,
54
Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261
the macrostructure of the welded joints contained columnar crystals
oriented in parallel to the direction of the fastest cooling (Fig. 3). In
addition, when welding was performed using the beam power distribu-
tion of 50:50, the size of grains was the same across the entire thickness
of the joint. Increasing the rst beam power and decreasing the power
of the second beam changed the distribution of columnar crystal sizes.
The largest crystals were present in the upper part of the weld (from the
face to the centre), whereas the structure of the lowest part was ne-
grained. Due to the fact that the size of grains is aected by a heat input
to the material, it can be assumed that the upper and lower parts of the
weld were aected by dierent laser beam-induced heat inputs. The
dierence could imply the incomplete penetration of the joint welded
by the second beam. Such a phenomenon could be conrmed by
welding performed using a higher linear energy and the laser beam
power distribution of 70:30 (Fig. 3f). The macrostructure of the welded
joint revealed that the weld face was signicantly larger than the weld
root.
The tests concerning the macrostructures of the welded joints also
involved the measurements of the individual zones of the welded joint.
The measurements were carried out in a middle part of the weld (along
the horizontal black line in Fig. 3). The results of the measurements are
presented in Fig. 4 demonstrating the changes in the width of the
fusion zone and that of the heat aected zone in relation to laser beam
power distribution. The analysis of the curves revealed that in case of
laser welding performed using a linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm
(Fig. 4a), the width of the fusion zone and that of the HAZ changed
in a linear manner. The increase in the rst beam power decreased the
fusion zone and increased the heat aected zone. When welding was
performed using the laser beam power distribution of 50:50, the width
of the fusion zone amounted to 1.1 mm, whereas that of the HAZ
amounted to 0.59 mm. The increase in the laser beam power to 60%
A. Grajcar et al. Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261

Fig. 3. Macrostructure of the laser welded joint made using the twin-spot laser beam. Joints a), b) and c) were made using a linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm, whereas joints d), e) and f)
were made using a linear energy of 0.060 kJ/mm. The joint g) was made using a linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm.

and 70% decreased the fusion zone by 0.06 mm and 0.15 mm as well as
increased the HAZ by 0.05 mm and 0.11 mm, respectively.
Wang et al. [20] stated that the decrease in welding linear energy
and, consequently, the decrease in a heat input to the material leads to
the decrease in the amount of liquid metal, thus reducing the width of
the fusion zone and that of the HAZ. It is established that the eect of
the welding linear energy on HAZ size of the current study is in
accordance with Wangs et. al. but the fusion zone behaves dierently
(Fig. 4). Therefore, it seems that the major eect is exerted by the
power distribution. This parameter implies the thermal prole and
resulting geometry of the joint. In the case subjected to analysis, the
decrease in the welding linear energy of the rst beam decreased the
width of the fusion zone. One of the reasons for this phenomenon could
be the dierence related to welding thermal cycles. Most probably,
welding performed using the laser beam power distribution of 50:50
resulted in the double melting of the material aected by the rst and

55
A. Grajcar et al.
Fig. 4. Changes in the width of the fusion zone and of the HAZ in relation to the laser
beam power distribution: a) welding linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm, b) welding linear
energy of 0.060 kJ/mm.
by the second beam. However, the second beam heated up the material,
the temperature of which was signicantly higher than that preceding
the pass of the rst beam (ambient temperature). The material
temperature following the pass of the second beam was higher than
that following the pass of the rst beam. As a result, the volume of
liquid metal in the fusion zone increased, leading to the increase of the
fusion zone width. The fusion zone was the widest when the laser beam
power distribution of 50:50% was used.
Along with the increase in the rst beam power to 60%, the rst
pass caused the penetration of the material, where the width of the
penetration was larger than that when the laser beam power amounted
to 50%, yet narrower than the width following the use of both laser
beams. The pass of the second beam with 40% power reheated the
material, yet not to such a high temperature as that which accompanied
welding performed using the laser beam power distribution of 50:50.
As a result, in the fusion zone, the total volume of liquid metal
decreased leading to the reduction of the fusion zone width. In turn,
the increase in the HAZ width indicated that during the pass of the
second beam, most of the heat aected the material in the solid state.
When the power of the rst beam was increased to 70%, the
penetration was greater than that when the laser beam having a power
of 50% and 60% was used. The narrowest width of the fusion zone
could indicate incomplete penetration or the lack of penetration during
the pass of the second laser beam having a power of 30%. In turn, the
largest width of the HAZ could indicate the signicant eect of the
second beam on the solid-state microstructure.
Welding performed using a linear energy of 0.060 kJ/mm was
accompanied by the similar tendency in relation to changes in widths of
individual zones, yet these changes were not so linear in nature
56
Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261
(Fig. 4b). This could be seen particularly in terms of the change in
the fusion zone width. The increase in the rst laser beam power
signicantly aected the width of the fusion zone amounting to
1.39 mm for the laser beam power distribution of 50:50. The use of
the greater rst beam power reduced the fusion zone width by 0.14 mm
for the laser beam power distribution of 60:40 and 0.52 mm for the
laser beam power distribution of 70:30. The HAZ width amounted to
0.75 mm for the laser beam power distribution of 50:50 and increased
along with the increase in the rst laser beam power by 0.04 mm and
0.14 mm, respectively.
Fig. 4b also revealed that when welding was performed using higher
linear energy and the laser beam power distribution of 70:30, the width
of the fusion zone and that of the HAZ were the same (in the central
part of the welded zone). It could also be seen that the fusion zone
width on the weld face side was signicantly greater than on the weld
root side. As mentioned before, this phenomenon could be attributed to
the incomplete penetration of the material by the second beam, thus
precluding the growth of the fusion zone. It should be noted that the
use of lower welding linear energy was not accompanied by this
phenomenon. The widths of fusion and heat aected zones for the
weld obtained for 70:30 power distribution and linear energy of
0.150 kJ/mm were 2 and 1.12 mm, respectively. The fusion zone is
two times wider and heat aected zone is approximately 0.2 mm wider
when compared to the widths obtained for two other power distribu-
tions.
3.3. Microstructure changes
In order to analyse the eect of welding conditions on the
microstructure of welded joints it was necessary to perform tests using
light and scanning microscopy. Analyses involved the fusion zone, the
HAZ and the transition zone (IC-HAZ) between the base material and
the HAZ. The rst zone to be subjected to the analysis was the fusion
zone. The microstructure of the fusion zone in relation to selected
variants is presented in Fig. 5. The microphotographs revealed that, in
all of the cases, the microstructure was composed of lath martensite.
However, when welding was performed using a linear energy of
0.150 kJ/mm, martensite laths were signicantly greater than in other
cases (Fig. 5d). The reason for such a dierence was a signicantly
greater heat input to the material resulting in the growth of martensite
laths. The photographs obtained using the scanning electron micro-
scope revealed some non-metallic inclusions in the fusion zone (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6a presents the microstructural details of the fusion zone in
relation to the selected welding variants. As mentioned above, mar-
tensite was characterised by the lath microstructure and defragmented
morphology. It was also possible to observe thin laths of retained
austenite between the martensite laths. Dong et al. [21] reported that
the increase in a heat input to the material could result in the
signicant tempering of martensite. In addition, Biro et al. [22]
ascertained that the decomposition of martensite was not instant but
occurred along with extended hold time. This could explain the
defragmentation of martensite caused by the eect of the second beam
increasing a heat input to the material and extending the martensite
hold time. Capello et al. [23] compared the cooling time of material
during single and dual beam laser welding. They showed that the
cooling time for the dual beam laser welding increased approximately
two times from 2 to 4.2 s. It conrms that the application of the twin
spot welding may give enough time for partial martensite tempering
and nally it can cause a decrease in hardness. Further more detailed
analysis is needed to assess a temperature of the second beam and
possible phase transformations.
In turn, Fig. 6b presents the microstructure of the fusion zone in the
sheet subjected to laser welding performed using a linear energy of
0.150 kJ/mm and the laser beam power distribution of 70:30%. As can
be seen, the increase in welding linear energy resulted in the signicant
increase of the size of structural constituents. The microstructure was
A. Grajcar et al. Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261

Fig. 5. Microstructure of the fusion zone related to welding performed using a linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm and the laser beam power distribution of a) 50:50, b) 60:40 and c) 70:30 as
well as d) welding performed using a linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm and the laser beam power distribution of 70:30%.

composed of coarse lath martensite, blocky martensite and retained
austenite present between martensite laths (in the form of lms) as
well as on the edges and within the blocky martensite (martensitic-
austenitic islands). In both cases it could be seen that some areas of
martensite contained spherical morphological elements. These sphe-
rical constituents could be precipitates indicating the occurrence of
diusive processes taking place during tempering. Biro et al. [24]
reported that during fast thermal cycles (typical of laser welding),
martensite undergoes tempering through two dierent mechanisms,
depending on time and temperature. In cases of higher temperatures
and longer exposure times, the principal mechanism accompanying the
tempering of martensite is the increase in precipitates size. Because of
this fact, in the case under discussion, the defragmentation of
martensite could be accompanied by the growth of structural consti-
tuents as the presence of the second beam extents the time during
which martensite is aected by temperature.
In spite of using the shielding gas atmosphere, the microstructure
of the fusion zone contained numerous non-metallic inclusions. Grajcar
et al. [25] reported that the non-metallic inclusions present in the
fusion zone were aluminium and silicon oxides formed as a result of the
reaction of oxygen with the liquid metal during welding. The authors
also stated that, because of the greater anity of aluminium to oxygen,
most of the non-metallic inclusions were aluminium oxides [26].
The microstructural analysis also involved the heat aected zone

Fig. 6. Microstructure of the fusion zone obtained for 70:30 power distribution, observed using the SEM in relation to the steel: a) welded using a linear energy of 0.060 kJ/mm, b)
welded using a linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm; M martensite, RA retained austenite, MA martensitic-austenitic islands.

57
A. Grajcar et al.
Fig. 7. Microstructure of the HAZ related to welding performed using a linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm and the laser beam power distribution of a) 50:50, b) 60:40 and c) 70:30 as well as
d) welding performed using a linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm and the laser beam power distribution of 70:30%.
(HAZ). Fig. 7 presents the microstructure of the HAZ related to welding
performed using a linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm and various laser
beam power distributions. The microphotographs revealed that the
HAZ was characterised by the ne-grained martensitic-bainitic micro-
structure. Increasing the welding linear energy slightly increased the
size of martensite and bainite laths. The structural details concerning
the HAZ of steel welded using lower linear energy are presented in
Fig. 8a. The SEM image revealed that the HAZ of the welded joint
contained the mixture of ne lath martensite and bainite as well as
some blocky martensite. Retained austenite was present as lms
located between the layers of martensite and bainite. Increasing the
welding linear energy to 0.150 kJ/mm (Fig. 8b) did not trigger any
visible changes in the HAZ microstructure, containing laths of mar-
tensite and bainite with layers of retained austenite.
As can be seen, similar to the FZ, martensite underwent defrag-
mentation, which implies that, to some extent, tempering-like pro-
cesses occurred also in the heat aected zone. In addition, the
microscopic observations revealed that the HAZ was free of non-
metallic inclusions (see Fig. 8c, presenting the line formed by non-
metallic inclusions separating the fusion zone and the HAZ).
The last zone subjected to the microstructural analysis was the
transition zone (interface) between the base material and the HAZ
referred to as the IC-HAZ. The microstructure of this zone is presented
in Fig. 9 showing the microphotographs of the IC-HAZ in relation to
welding performed using a linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm and various
laser beam power distributions. The images obtained using the light
microscope revealed that the microstructure contained the ne-grained
mixture of bainite, martensite, ferrite and retained austenite. The
retained austenite was present as ne grains located on the edges of
blocky martensite grains and as laths inside the bainite. The retained
58
Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261
austenite is presented in Fig. 10a and b as bright structural constitu-
ents.
The presence of retained austenite in the microstructure of the
transition zone resulted from the temperature stability of the austenite
which, in turn resulted from the enrichment of austenite in carbon
during welding. In addition, Zhao et al. [27] ascertained that an
addition of aluminium increased the content of carbon in austenite
thus increasing its temperature stability. Retained austenite positively
aects ductility and mechanical properties of TRIP steels.
Increasing linear energy to 0.150 kJ/mm aected the morphology
of the transition zone (Fig. 10b) from the lath morphology to the blocky
morphology. This change was connected with the decrease in cooling
rate and the increase in welding linear energy. It was also revealed that,
similar to the HAZ, the transition zone microstructure was free of non-
metallic inclusions.
3.4. Hardness proles
In order to determine the eect of welding parameters on the
properties of welded joints it was necessary to perform hardness
measurements. The results of the hardness tests are presented in
Figs. 1113. Fig. 11 presents curves of hardness changes related to
selected welding parameters. It is clear that, regardless of welding
protocols, the greatest hardness was that measured in the HAZ. It can
be seen that when welding was performed using a linear energy of
0.06 kJ/mm, the increase in the rst beam laser power from 60% to
70% changed the hardness of the welded joint, particularly in the
fusion zone. In both cases the highest hardness was found in the HAZ,
amounting to approximately 505 HV1 for the 60:40 laser beam power
distribution and to approximately 486 HV1 when the 70:30 laser beam
A. Grajcar et al. Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261

Fig. 8. Microstructure of the HAZ in relation to selected twin-spot laser beam welding
variants (SEM).
Fig. 9. Microstructure of the transition zone (IC-HAZ) related to welding performed
power distribution was used. In terms of the fusion zone, increasing the using a linear energy of 0.048 kJ/mm and the laser beam power distribution of a) 50:50,
b) 60:40 and c) 70:30.
energy from 60% do 70% decreased hardness by approximately 20
HV1. The decrease in welding linear energy increased the hardness in
HAZ and base material, which can be sometimes seen in case of laser
the fusion zone by approximately 30 HV1. However, also in this case,
welding of high strength steels [12]. The softening phenomenon is not
the highest hardness was that of the HAZ (approximately 500 HV1).
usually acceptable because it may lead to weld fracture between the
This value is similar to the HAZ hardness obtained for one spot
HAZ and base material. The reason for a lack of softening zone in case
laser welding. However, comparing the hardness of the FZ in case of
of twin-spot laser welding is due to the lower martensite amount in the
single and dual beam laser welding, it can be seen that the benecial
transition zone.
hardness decrease for dual beam laser welding. Recently, Sharma et al.
In order to determine a lack of the full penetration of second beam
[28] performed welding of TRIP steel with dierent steel grades using
in case of welding with 70:30 power distribution and linear energy of
one beam laser welding. The measured hardness of the FZ and HAZ
0.06 kJ/mm (Fig. 3f), the hardness measurement in a weld face and a
was app. 500 HV, i.e., 40 HV (in case of FZ) higher compared to the
root were carried out. The results are presented in Fig. 12. It can be
current twin-spot laser welding. According to Capello et al. [23] the
seen that the hardness of fusion zoon is similar. However, some
reason for this is the decrease in cooling rate of material because of
hardness dierences between the heat aected zones are observed.
additional heat inputted by the second beam.
The average hardness dierence is around 25 HV1 in the HAZ
Moreover, it can be seen that there is no softening zone between the
corresponding to the face and the root. The dierence may result from

59
A. Grajcar et al.
Fig. 10. Morphological details of the microstructure of the transition zone of the steel
sheets welded with 70:30 power distribution: a) welding performed using a linear energy
of 0.048 kJ/mm, b) welding performed using a linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm; F ferrite,
M martensite, BA bainitic-austenitic areas, MA martensitic-austenitic regions, RA
retained austenite.
Fig. 11. Hardness changes in relation to selected parameters of twin-spot laser beam
welding.
the amount of heat input into the material. The face of the weld is in
direct contact with the laser beam. It means that it gets a higher
amount of heat compared to the weld root because the heat needs to be
transferred there by convection. There are also some losses of heat
(heat goes in all directions, so only some fraction of it goes to the weld
root). The performed microstructure investigations of the face and root
did not show any distinct dierences of the amounts and morphology
of structural constituents. Further more detailed microscopic investi-
gations are planned to explain the measured hardness dierence.
Hardness measurements also involved the welded joint made using
60
Optics & Laser Technology 92 (2017) 5261
Fig. 12. The hardness proles of weld face (A) and root (b) obtained for welding with
70:30 power distribution and a linear energy of 0.060 kJ/mm.
Fig. 13. Hardness changes in relation to welding performed using a linear energy of
0.150 kJ/mm.
a welding linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm. The measurement results are
presented in Fig. 13. As can be seen, the signicant increase in the
welding linear energy led to the dramatic hardness decrease in the
fusion zone. For the above named variant, the hardness of the fusion
zone amounted to approximately 280 HV1, which corresponded to the
hardness of the base material. Still, the highest hardness was that
observed in the HAZ (approximately 480 HV1). The presented welding
cycle could lead to the formation of a structural notch, which, in turn,
could negatively aect mechanical properties of welded joints. In
comparison with the results presented in Fig. 11, the welded joint
obtained using a linear energy of 0.150 kJ/mm was characterised by
larger widths of individual zones. This phenomenon resulted from a
signicantly greater heat input to the material, which, as regards the
fusion zone, led to the greater volume of liquid metal in the zone.
4. Conclusions
The twin-spot laser welding of advanced Si-Al TRIP steel sheets was
performed using various laser protocols. The modications of laser
power distribution (50:50, 60:40, 70:30) and a linear energy in a range
from 0.048 to 0.15 kJ/mm were applied. The tests revealed the positive
eect of using the twin-spot laser beam on the microstructure and
hardness of welded joints. In particular it was ascertained that:
change in the welding thermal cycle signicantly aected the
geometry of welded joints. This phenomenon was visible when the
energy of the rst beam was increased, leading to the decrease in the
fusion zone width. This eect was visible particularly well when
A. Grajcar et al.
welding was performed using the 70%:30% laser beam power
distribution.
microstructure of the fusion zone was characterised by the mixed
lath-blocky morphology of structural constituents. The increase of
linear energy to 0.15 kJ/mm signicantly increased the size of
martensite laths.
lath microstructure of the heat aected zone included martensite,
bainite and retained austenite. The increase in welding energy to
0.150 kJ/mm did not change the type, morphology and grain size of
structural constituents.
transition zone was characterised by lath morphology when lower
welding energy was used, whereas the increase in linear energy to
0.150 kJ/mm transformed the lath morphology into blocky mor-
phology. This zone consists of ferrite, bainite, martensite and
retained austenite.
the application of the second beam positively reduces the hardness
of the fusion zone for the linear energies of 0.048 and 0.06 kJ/mm.
The highest hardness was obtained in the HAZ: 480505 HV.
when welding was performed using an energy of 0.150 kJ/mm, the
hardness of the fusion zone corresponded to the hardness of the
base material. This value was caused by the coarse-lath microstruc-
ture of the zone.
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