Process stability and design of seam geometry during hybrid welding

Abstract

Economical aspects in the offshore industries lead to new materials and due to these materials to new production technologies. One of these technologies is the hybrid welding process. Compared to laser welding, the combination of the laser and one conventional welding process (e.g. GMAW) offers many advantages like wider gap bridgeability, enhanced process stability and higher welding speed. Hybrid welding allows the geometrical design of weld seams on demand. The paper shows the results of hybrid welding experiments with austenitic stainless steel and supermartensitic 13%Cr steel. Tensile tests and hardness measurements were carried out. All tests have been performed in the as-welded and in the post weld heat treated conditions. The results show a very good behaviour of the hybrid welded samples with seam properties close to the properties of the base material. It is concluded that the hybrid welding process has the potential to be implemented in industrial production in the near future.Economical aspects in the offshore industries lead to new materials and due to these materials to new production technologies. One of these technologies is the hybrid welding process. Compared to laser welding, the combination of the laser and one conventional welding process (e.g. GMAW) offers many advantages like wider gap bridgeability, enhanced process stability and higher welding speed. Hybrid welding allows the geometrical design of weld seams on demand. The paper shows the results of hybrid welding experiments with austenitic stainless steel and supermartensitic 13%Cr steel. Tensile tests and hardness measurements were carried out. All tests have been performed in the as-welded and in the post weld heat treated conditions. The results show a very good behaviour of the hybrid welded samples with seam properties close to the properties of the base material. It is concluded that the hybrid welding process has the potential to be implemented in industrial production in the near future.