A　three-dimensional　transient　numerical　model　was　developed　to　study　the　temperature　field　and　molten　pool　shape　during　continuous　laser　keyhole　welding.　The　volume-of-fluid　(VOF)　method　was　employed　to　track　free　surfaces.　Melting　and　evaporation　enthalpy,　recoil　pressure,　surface　tension,　and　energy　loss　due　to　evaporating　materials　were　considered　in　this　model.　The　enthalpy-porosity　technique　was　employed　to　account　for　the　latent　heat　during　melting　and　solidification.　Temperature　fields　and　weld　pool　shape　were　calculated　using　FLUENT　software.　The　calculated　weld　dimensions　agreed　reasonable　well　with　the　experimental　results.　The　effectiveness　of　the　developed　computational　procedure　had　been　confirmed.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.