Different numbers of path segments produce different temperature profiles

[elizabethcd]

I am attaching some files for a simple straight line (single bead) simulation, which seems to have the behavior as follows in the images, where when the single line path is broken into one, two, or ten sub-segments it has different temperature profiles. I don't know if this is intended behavior, but if it is I am curious if there is any guidance on how to choose what number/length of segment for a simulation.

One sub-segment:

Two sub-segments:

Ten sub-segments:

Inputs.zip

[gknapp1]

Hi @elizabethcd, your scan path is adding in wait times between the scan path segments and changing your scan speed, so this is changing your thermal field (details on path file format):

Mode	X(mm)	Y(mm)	Z(mm)	Pmod	Time(s)
1	0	0	0	0	1.00E-04
0	10	0	0	1	1 # <--- scans at 1 m/s
1	10	0	0	0	1.0001 # <--- adds 1.0001 seconds of wait time
0	20	0	0	1	2 # <--- scans at 2 m/s

The following two scan paths should produce the same answer, scanning from x = 0 -> x = 20 mm at 1 m/s:

Mode	X(mm)	Y(mm)	Z(mm)	Pmod	Time(s)
1	0	0	0	0	1.00E-04
0	10	0	0	1	1
0	20	0	0	1	1

Mode	X(mm)	Y(mm)	Z(mm)	Pmod	Time(s)
1	0	0	0	0	1.00E-04
0	20	0	0	1	1

[elizabethcd]

Ah, I've misunderstood the time column in the paths file, this makes sense. Sorry for the trouble! I still am looking into why this is producing temperatures that are far too low (5000W, 10mm/s, 3mm beam diameter should produce a melt pool instead of being around 400K maximum).

[elizabethcd]

Here's the updated version, with the Time(s) column fixed (see attached files). Am I correct to understand that the Time(s) column represents how long to take for that step, in seconds? I'm a bit confused about the 1 m/s number in your comments, since moving 10mm in 1 s should be 10 mm/s.

One segment:

Two segments:

Ten segments:

There is still some small changes between these (see colorbar maximum temperatures), which doesn't seem to be due to the 1e-4 wait times (I decreased to 1e-6 with no noticeable difference).

Inputs Updated.zip