The present work investigates numerically the influence of heating temperature on the thermal and mechanical behaviour of INCONEL 738 LC, which is used in the TIG welding process for castings made from a nickel-based superalloy. The transient heat transfer process is modelled in the ABAQUS solver using the finite element method (FEM) for the volumetric double ellipsoidal heat source model of Goldak, which simulates a welding torch that moves. The simulations are conducted at three distinct preheating temperatures, namely 750 °C, 950 °C, and 1050 °C, with the objective of elucidating the impact on the temperature distribution and the evolution of residual stresses and distortion. The numerical results demonstrate the considerable advantages of preheating to 1050 °C, resulting in the lowest residual stress of approximately 0.2 GPa and minimal distortion, both of which occur without a significant increase in the fusion zone. The existing evidence suggests that applying elevated temperatures (1050 °C) to the welding process is highly effective in mitigating stress, thereby enhancing dimensional stability in the resulting components. The results also confirm the hypothesis that applying higher heating temperatures is effective in counteracting welding stresses and improving the stability of welded components. It is also important to note that the significance of optimal preheating is attributable to its capacity to enhance both the residual stress distribution and the integrity of the structures during the welding of Ni-base superalloys.
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