Predictive modelling for quality analysis becomes one of the most critical requirements for a continuous improvement of reliability, efficiency and safety of laser welding process. Accurate and effective model to perform non-destructive quality estimation is an essential part of this assessment. This paper presents a structured approach developed to design an effective artificial neural network based model for predicting the weld bead dimensional characteristic in laser overlap welding of low carbon galvanized steel. The modelling approach is based on the analysis of direct and interaction effects of laser welding parameters such as laser power, welding speed, laser beam diameter and gap on weld bead dimensional characteristics such as depth of penetration, width at top surface and width at interface. The data used in this analysis was derived from structured experimental investigations according to Taguchi method and exhaustive FEM based 3D modelling and simulation efforts. Using a factorial design, different neural network based prediction models were developed, implemented and evaluated. The models were trained and tested using experimental data, supported with the data generated by the 3D simulation. Hold-out test and k-fold cross validation combined to various statistical tools were used to evaluate the influence of the laser welding parameters on the performances of the models. The results demonstrated that the proposed approach resulted successfully in a consistent model providing accurate and reliable predictions of weld bead dimensional characteristics under variable welding conditions. The best model presents prediction errors lower than 7% for the three weld quality characteristics.
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