Metal transfer in arc welding as a varicose instability. I. Varicose instabilities in a current-carrying liquid cylinder with surface charge

Abstract

This paper considers, largely in the context of metal transfer in arc welding, the stability of a viscous, current-carrying fluid cylinder with surface charge. Simple expressions are obtained between the characteristics of instability growth and the dependence of these on 'process parameters'. For liquid metals it is found that viscous effects are negligible while electrostatic effects exert a stabilising influence and may have a number of interesting effects on stability (particularly at low wire currents).