Numerical simulation of high-frequency induction welding in longitudinal welded tubes

In the present paper the high-frequency induction welding process is studied numerically. The mathematical model comprises a harmonic vector potential formulation of the Maxwell equations and a quasi-static, convection dominated heat equation coupled through the Joule heat term and nonlinear constitutive relations. Its main novelties are a new analytic approach which permits to compute a spatially varying feed velocity depending on the angle of the Vee-opening and additional spring-back effects. Moreover, a numerical stabilization approach for the finite element discretization allows to consider realistic weld-line speeds and thus a fairly comprehensive three-dimensional simulation of the tube welding process.