The Effect of Heat Input on Welding Combination of GTAW and SMAW SA537 Material on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure

Abstract

The combination of GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) and SMAW (Shield Metal Arc Welding) processes on SA537 Class 2 carbon steel using variations of heat input is the main choice to get the best quality welded joints. This research aims to joint SA537 Class 2 material using the GTAW and SMAW process with heat input variations to get the best joint and determine the joint results mechanical properties and microstructure analysis. The experimental method uses a combination of GTAW and SMAW processes with a single V butt joint design, groove angle of 60o, root face 2 mm and root gap of 4 mm as many as 7 passes, and variations in heat input of 2.5 kJ/mm, 2.8 kJ/mm and 3.2 kJ/mm. According to ASME section IX, the mechanical testing results showed that the specimen with a heat input of 2.8 kJ/mm gave optimum results with the highest tensile strength of 480 MPa compared to the other two specimens, and there were no cracks when tested for bending The higher the heat input, the greater the decrease in the percentage of ferrite. Using a heat input of 2.8 kJ/mm in this study provides a weld result with better mechanical properties and microstructure than the use of heat input of 2.5 kJ/mm and 3.2 kJ/mm.