A Study of Weld Seams on Low Carbon Steel ABS Grade a Marine Plates Using SMAW Process

Abstract

Understanding the impact of welding parameters and welder skill on weld quality is crucial. However, it is the lack of comprehensive studies that consider the welding parameters and welder-introduced defects when analyzing the mechanical and metallurgical behaviors of low carbon steel welds using the SMAW process. The research aims to study and assess the impact of weld seams of low carbon steel ABS Grade A marine plate of 12.7mm thick using manual SMAW process as per AWS D1.1 structural welding code requirements and fulfilments of ASME Section IX pressurized equipment welding code requirements too. Different voltages, currents, and travel speeds were used to weld the test specimen plates. After the manual SMAW process, a series of testing techniques, including non-destructive tests, such as VT and RT, and destructive tests, such as tensile tests, bend tests, impact tests, microhardness tests, and metallographic examination has been conducted to assess/evaluate on the welded seam profiles and analyses/determines whether the accepted welded seam profiles have fulfilled the relevant welding code requirements. From the series of assessments and analyses, it is confirmed that the welded test specimen 1 having the welding parameters (i.e., voltage 23 V, current 70 A, and travel speeds 56.52 – 312.50 mm/min, having a range of heat inputs from 0.31kJ/mm to 1.71kJ/mm) is accepted as the quality good weld seam.