A comparison between different numerical formulations for welding arc representations

A mathematical model was developed to simulate gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) in order to compare two distinct numerical formulations to represent the electromagnetic problem in arc welding operations, i.e. the “potential” and the “magnetic” approaches. Both formulations, representing the same physics but mathematically and numerically different, are tested against each other and against experimental measurements and other numerical studies reported in the literature. In general, the magnetic approach seems to be easier to implement but the potential approach shows superiority predicting isotherms, current and heat flux densities at the anode.