*3.4. Experimental Verification*

In order to verify the accuracy of the simulation model, the simulation scheme proposed above was taken for laser cladding experiment. In Figure 11, the temperatures of sample point 6 and 7 are respectively 1580 ◦C and 1460 ◦C, which are higher than the melting point of matrix 1300 ◦C, and the temperature of sample point 8 is 1180 ◦C. Therefore, according to the simulation calculation, it can be judged that the junction of cladding layer and matrix is located between sample points 7 and 8. After measurement, the depth, width and height of the cladding layer are 0.28 mm, 3.0 mm, and 1.0 mm respectively. The height and width of the cladding layer set by the finite element model are 1.0 mm and 3 mm, the depth of the molten pool obtained by the simulation calculation is 0.2~0.4 mm. It can be seen that the actual size of the cladding layer is basically consistent with the simulation results. The cross section morphology of the cladding layer is basically the same by comparing the cross section screenshot with the simulation results, which verifies that the simulation model is correct.

Figure 12 shows that obvious cracks appear on both sides of the cladding layer close to the substrate, which also has the maximum residual stress according to the simulation results. But the cracks are very small, because the load parameters of the residual stress simulation are optimized. The cracks can only be improved, but cannot be absolutely eliminated.

**Figure 11.** Experimental and simulation results.

**Figure 12.** Crack location of cladding layer cross section.
