Parametric Optimization of the GMAW Welding Process in Thin Thickness of Austenitic Stainless Steel by Taguchi Method

Glauco Nobrega,Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez,Manuel Rodríguez-Martín,João Ribeiro,Maria Sabrina Souza

doi:10.3390/app11188742

Glauco Nobrega, Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188742

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Abstract

In the present work, an analysis of different welding parameters was carried out on the welding of stainless-steel thin thickness tubes by the Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process. The influence of three main parameters, welding voltage, movement angle, and welding current in the quality of the welds, was studied through a specifically designed experimental process based on the establishment of three different levels of values for each of these parameters. Weld quality is evaluated using destructive testing (macrographic analysis). Specifically, the width and root penetration of the weld bead were measured; however, some samples have been disregarded due to welding defects outside the permissible range or caused by excessive melting of the base metals. Data are interpreted, discussed, and analyzed using the Taguchi method and ANOVA analysis. From the analysis of variance, it was possible to identify the most influential parameter, the welding voltage, with a contribution of 43.55% for the welding penetration and 75.26% for the bead width, which should be considered in the designs of automatic welding processes to improve the quality of final welds.

Highlights

Austenitic stainless steels are used in the construction of parts for automobiles and boats due to their high corrosion resistance and mechanical performance [1]
The quality of the weld depends on the bead geometry [10], metallurgical and mechanical characteristics [11], chemical composition [12], and input parameters such as voltage, current, electrode type, flux and gas type, welding position, travel speed, and others [4] making the task of finding the best parameters quite challenging [13]
If the welding parameters are not correctly chosen, they can lead to welded joints with high levels of residual stresses [14,15], geometric distortions [16], and discontinuities [17,18]

Summary

Introduction

Austenitic stainless steels are used in the construction of parts for automobiles and boats due to their high corrosion resistance and mechanical performance [1] They are used in nuclear, aeronautical, food, petrochemical, and biological applications [2,3,4] due to their robust mechanical, physical, and chemical properties [5,6]. To achieve these parts or elements, different manufacturing processes [7] that allow the welding to stand out [8] must be used. If the welding parameters are not correctly chosen, they can lead to welded joints with high levels of residual stresses [14,15], geometric distortions [16], and discontinuities [17,18]

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Conclusion