The humping phenomenon during high speed gas metal arc welding

Abstract

A commonly observed welding defect that characteristically occurs at high welding speeds is the periodic undulation of the weld bead profile, also known as humping. The occurrence of humping limits the range of usable welding speeds in most fusion welding processes and prevents further increases in productivity in a welding operation. At the present time, the physical mechanisms responsible for humping are not well understood. Thus, it is difficult to know how to suppress humping in order to achieve higher welding speeds. The objectives of this study were to identify and experimentally validate the physical mechanisms responsible for the humping phenomenon during high speed gas metal arc (GMA) welding of plain carbon steel. A LaserStrobe video imaging system was used to obtain video images of typical sequences of events during the formation of a hump. Based on these recorded video images, the strong momentum of the backward flow of molten metal in the weld pool that typically occurred during high speed welding was identified as the major factor responsible for the initiation of humping. Experiments with different process variables affecting the backward flow of molten weld metal were used to validate this hypothesis. These process variables included welding speed, welding position and shielding gas composition. The use of downhill welding positions and reactive shielding gases was found to suppress humping and to allow higher welding speeds by reducing the momentum of the backward flow of molten metal in the weld pool. This would suggest that any process variables or welding techniques that can dissipate or reduce the momentum of the backward flow of molten metal in the weld pool will facilitate higher welding speeds and productivity.     

High speed fusion weld bead defects

Abstract

A comprehensive survey of high speed weld bead defects is presented with strong emphasis on the formation of humping and undercutting in autogenous and non-autogenous fusion welding processes. Blowhole and overlap weld defects are also discussed. Although experimental results from previous studies are informative, they do not always reveal the physical mechanisms responsible for the formation of these high speed weld bead defects. In addition, these experimental results do not reveal the complex relationships between welding process parameters and the onset of high speed weld bead defects. Various phenomenological models of humping and undercutting have been proposed that were based on observations of events in different regions within the weld pool or the final weld bead profile. The ability of these models to predict the onset of humping or undercutting has not been satisfactorily demonstrated. Furthermore, the proposed formation mechanisms of these high speed weld bead defects are still being questioned. Recent welding techniques and processes have, however, been shown to be very effective in suppressing humping and undercutting by slowing the backward flow of molten metal in the weld pool. This backward flow of molten weld metal may be the principal physical phenomenon responsible for the formation of humping and undercutting during high speed fusion welding.     

High quality welding of stainless steel with 10 kW high power fibre laser

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to investigate penetration characteristics, to clarify welding phenomena and to develop high quality welding procedures in bead on plate welding of type 304 austenitic stainless steel plates with a 10 kW fibre laser beam. The penetration depth reached 18 mm at the maximum at 5 mm s^?1. At 50 mm s^?1 or lower welding speeds, however, porosity was generated at any fibre laser spot diameter. On the other hand, at 100 mm s^?1 or higher welding speeds, underfilling and humping weld beads were formed under the conventionally and tightly focused conditions respectively. The generation of spatters was influenced mainly by a strong shear force of a laser induced plume and was greatly reduced by controlling direction of the plume blowing out of a keyhole inlet. The humping formation was dependent upon several dynamic or static factors, such as melt volume above the surface, strong melt flow to the rear molten pool on the top surface, solidification rate and narrow molten pool width and corresponding high surface tension. Its suppression was effective by producing a wider weld bead width under the defocused laser beam conditions or reduction of melt volume out of keyhole inlet under the full penetration welding conditions. Concerning porosity, X-ray transmission in situ observation images demonstrated that pores were formed not only from the tip of the keyhole but also at the middle part because of high power density. The keyhole behaviour was stabilised using a nitrogen shielding gas, resulting in porosity prevention. Consequently, to produce high quality welds in 10 kW high power fibre laser welding, the reduction procedures of welding defects were required on the basis of understanding their formation mechanism, and 10 kW fibre laser power could produce sound deeply penetrated welds of 18 mm depth in a nitrogen shielding gas.     

高速GMAW驼峰焊道形成过程熔池图像识别

针对高速驼峰焊道形成过程中熔池的变化规律,采用CCD视觉传感系统跟踪采集. 提出了一种基于模糊C-均值聚类(fuzzy C-means,FCM)协作主动轮廓(chan-vese,CV)模型的熔池图像分割方法,对高速焊接过程中的熔池图像进行图像分割. 结果表明,驼峰的形成过程中,熔池长度的阶跃变化是反映驼峰形成的主要图像特征. 将熔池长度序列拟合成波形,采用Symlets2号小波进行分解,发现d₂级小波分解能更好地识别熔池长度的阶跃变化. 对d₂级小波细节能量设定阈值,获取反映熔池长度阶跃变化的尖峰突起特征信号,能很好地识别驼峰缺陷的形成,初步实现了驼峰焊道的监测控制.     

Effects of torch configuration and welding current on weld bead formation in high speed tandem pulsed gas metal arc welding of steel sheets

Abstract

Undercut and humping bead are the common defects that limit the maximum welding speed of tandem pulsed gas metal arc (GMA) welding. In order to increase the maximum welding speed, effects of the inclination angle, interwire distance and welding current ratio between the leading wire and trailing wire on bead formation in high speed welding are investigated. The undercut and humping bead is attributed to the irregular flow of molten metal towards the rear part of the weld pool. This irregular flow can be prevented by the trailing wire with a push angle from 5° to 13° , which provides an appropriate component of arc force in the welding direction. The irregular flow is also related to the distance between the leading wire and the trailing wire, and the flow becomes regular when the distance is in the range 9–12 mm. Moreover, the stabilisation of the bulge of the weld pool between the two wires, the presence of enough molten metal below the trailing arc, and the reduced velocity of molten metal flow towards the rear part of the weld pool, are essential to increase the maximum welding speed. These conditions can be obtained by adjusting the ratio of the leading arc current to the trailing arc current. A maximum welding speed as high as 4–4·5 m min^?1 is achieved by setting the current ratio to a value ranging from 0·31 to 0·5.     

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON FORMING PROCESS OF HUMPING BEAD IN HIGH SPEEDMAG ARC WELDING

开展了高速活性气体保护( MAG)电弧焊接工艺实验, 确定出了不同焊接电流条件下形成驼峰焊道时的临界焊接速度、相邻驼峰之间的距离以及同一驼峰焊道“波峰”和“谷底”的断面形貌. 基于高速MAG电弧焊熔池的视觉检测图像, 分析了驼峰焊道的产生机理, 并利用上坡焊和下坡焊实验进行了验证. 同时, 也分析了保护气体成分对高速MAG电弧焊焊缝成形的影响.     

Effect of welding current and speed on occurrence of humping bead in high-speed GMAW

The developed mathematical model of humping formation mechanism in high-speed gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is used to analyze the effects of welding current and welding speed on the occurrence of humping bead. It considers both the momentum and heat content of backward flowing molten jet inside weld pool. Three-dimensional geometry of weld pool, the spacing between two adjacent humps and hump height along humping weld bead are calculated under different levels of welding current and welding speed. It shows that wire feeding rate, power intensity and the moment of backward flowing molten jet are the major factors on humping bead formation.     

高速MAG电弧焊驼峰焊道产生过程的实验研究

开展了高速活性气体保护（MAG）电弧焊接工艺实验,确定出了不同焊接电流条件下形成驼峰焊道时的临界焊接速度、相邻驼峰之间的距离以及同一驼峰焊道“波峰”和“谷底”的断面形貌．基于高速MAG电弧焊熔池的视觉检测图像,分析了驼峰焊道的产生机理,并利用上坡焊和下坡焊实验进行了验证．同时,也分析了保护气体成分对高速MAG电弧焊焊缝成形的影响．     

Effect of droplet heat content distribution on humping formation in high speed GMAW

The momentum of strong backward flowing melt jet and the thermal action from transferred droplets are two dominating factors affecting the formation of humping bead in high speed gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Appropriate describing the influence of the distribution mode of droplet heat content in the weld pool is essential to understand the physical mechanism of humping bead formation. Based on the experimental results, four kinds of droplet heat content distribution modes are proposed and employed to calcu...     

高速TIG-MIG复合焊焊缝驼峰及咬边消除机理

搭建了TIG-MIG复合焊试验平台及电参数-高速图像同步采集系统,进行了一系列低碳钢高速TIG-MIG复合焊工艺试验,研究了高速TIG-MIG复合焊的电弧形态、熔滴过渡及熔池行为对焊缝成形的影响,并确定了合适的匹配参数.结果表明,MIG焊电流在240~300 A,且TIG焊电流与MIG焊电流相当时,TIG-MIG复合焊焊接过程稳定,即使在焊接速度高达2.5 m/min时,焊缝仍无驼峰、咬边等缺陷,与传统MIG焊相比,熔深增加,熔宽减小.TIG-MIG复合焊由于电弧间的相互作用,两电弧指向发生偏转,电弧压力减小,焊接过程不产生弧坑,且熔宽变窄,这是避免驼峰和咬边缺陷的主要原因.     

Influence of backward flowing molten jet on humping bead formation during high-speed GMA welding

Considering the inflttence of backward flowing molten jet observed by experiments, a new pool surface deformation formula and droplets heat content model are used to investigate the humping formation mechanism during high-speed gas metal arc (GMA) welding. Three-dimensional geometry of the humping bead is numerically simulated only if some extra force and heat acted at the rear part of weld pool are taken into account in the model. It has proved that both the momentum and heat content of backward flowing molten jet must be appropriately treated to quantitatively analyze the physical mechanism of the humping phenomenon.     

高速GMAW驼峰形成过程的数值分析

文中通过数值模拟来研究常速、高速熔化极气体保护焊的温度场和流场,并利用高速摄影观察熔池流动,分析了驼峰形成过程.结果表明,常速焊接熔池纵截面同时存在逆时针向内和顺时针向外两种流动方式,但随着焊接速度的提高,熔池纵截面仅存在逆时针向内单一流动方式.高速焊接时,较大动量的后向液体流和足够大的表面张力促进液态金属在熔池尾部不断堆积、变大.沿焊接方向,熔池受到不均匀的表面张力法向力作用而收缩,这是驼峰形成的两个重要因素.任何能降低表面张力的措施,都能抑制驼峰的形成.     

外加横向磁场对高速GMAW焊缝成形的影响

对于高速熔化极气体保护焊接（GMAW）过程,当焊接速度超过临界值后,会出现驼峰焊道,焊缝成形变差.研究证明,熔池中动量很大的后向液体流是产生驼峰焊道的主要原因.研发了外加横向磁场发生装置,通过产生的电磁力来抑制后向液体流的动量,从而抑制驼峰焊道的形成.应用特斯拉计测试和考察了工件上磁感应强度大小及分布的影响因素.通过开展焊接工艺试验分析了不同强度的外加磁场作用下的焊缝成形规律.结果表明,外加横向磁场能明显调控熔池流态,有效抑制驼峰焊道和咬边等缺陷,显著改善焊缝成形,提高临界焊接速度.     

Sulphur-induced ductility-dip cracking in low carbon steel weld metal

Abstract

Two types of hot cracks in low carbon steel weld metal, namely, solidification cracks and ductility-dip cracks have been verified using hot cracking tests and hot ductility tests. The formation temperature ranges of the two types of hot cracks are 1480–1450°C, and 1100–850°C, respectively. The surface morphology of ductility-dip cracks is intergranular fracture with dimple zones and smooth facets containing voids which are associated with (Mn, Fe)S inclusions. This type of cracking can be prevented by increasing the manganese content in the weld metal.     

Mechanism and estimation of porosity defects in ductile cast iron

Abstract

Although there are many works on the formation mechanism of porosity defects due to solidification in ductile cast iron, the formation mechanism is still not clear and decreasing the porosity defects is still a main issue in the industry. This paper critically reviews conventional explanations for the porosity formation including estimation methods. Based on the discussion the authors propose a formation theory where it considers gas and oxide entrapment during mould filling, expansion of outer part of casting due to graphite formation and pressure decrease in the inner part, followed by the growth of entrapped small gas bubbles. This mechanism can explain various facts in practice and be usable to estimate the defects. It also gives a good way to design effective risers. Future challenges are also discussed including the effect of inoculation on the fluidity of the mushy region.     

Pressureless diffusion bonding of ferritic stainless steel foil controlled by metal evaporation

Abstract

Bond formation of thin ferritic stainless steel foils containing 20Cr–5Al (wt-%) was observed under near vacuum pressure of ～10^-3 Pa. Debonded (peeled off) surfaces exhibited a white scaly morphology after bonding above 1400 K. No bond formation was observed below 1400 K, so the critical temperature for bond formation must exist around 1400 K. The critical temperature also depends on the surface roughness of the foil (the thickness of the gap between foils), which can be explained in terms of aluminium evaporation behaviour between foils. A theoretical model is proposed to estimate the effect of aluminium evaporation on the critical temperature. It is also suggested that aluminium evaporation between foils can protect the bonding surface from the residual oxygen gas.     

Hump formation mechanism in gas-jet-assisted keyhole laser welding of HR-2 stainless steel

Gas-jet-assisted keyhole laser welding offers the possibility of a breakthrough in the limitations of penetration depth in laser welding,which currently suffers from equipment restrictions.A gas jet of sufficient intensity to assist the keyhole should be used to obtain suppressed plasma,a deepened keyhole,and increased penetration depth.However,an excessively strong gas jet gives rise to humps.The incident angle of the keyhole-assisted gas jet is 60°,with a nozzle ahead of the laser beam.A series of experiments were carried out with different welding velocities and gas parameters by using HR-2 hydrogen-resistant stainless steel and a slab CO_2 continuous-wave laser welding machine.The weld profiles can be categorized into four types,welds of traditional laser welding,welds of enhanced laser welding,undercut welds,and humping welds with increased gas pressure.A high-speed camera was employed in the experiments to monitor the formation of humps under an excessively strong gas jet.The results of analysis show that hump formation can be divided into six stages.Its main driving force is the intense turbulence of gas jet.There are two main reasons for hump formation:premature solidification of the molten pool caused by the large temperature gradient between the front and rear parts of the molten pool,and the emergence of a thin layer liquid bridge with one-directional flow under the enhanced cooling effect of excessively strong gas.     

Technical note: Polymer ball bearings in corrosive environments

Abstract

Where moderate running speeds and loadings are involved, ball bearings engineered from polymer resins can offer significant advantages over their steel counterparts. They also give a far superior performance than can be obtained from plastics bushes. A primary disadvantage of running a shaft in a plastics bush is that, if unacceptably high friction losses are to be avoided, it has to be a fairly loose fit. In a polymer ball bearing, friction is only about one seventh of that experienced with a comparable bush bearing and the bearings are manufactured to close diametrical tolerances, enabling precision running to be preserved.     

电弧弧长对激光-电弧复合焊飞溅和底部驼峰的影响

由于热源形式的特殊性,激光-电弧复合焊接过程中激光和电弧间易发生相互干扰,产生飞溅和底部驼峰等缺陷。以590 MPa级船用高强钢为研究对象,研究了电弧弧长对激光-电弧复合焊飞溅和焊缝底部驼峰的影响。为了深入研究激光-电弧复合焊飞溅和底部驼峰的产生机理,利用高速摄像设备对熔滴过渡行为和焊缝底部熔池进行了观察。结果表明,适当缩短电弧弧长可以降低激光和电弧间的相互干扰,提高复合焊接过程的稳定性,进而降低飞溅产生的倾向。底部驼峰是小孔熔透性差和底部熔池流动不连续所引起的。缩短电弧弧长可以对底部驼峰的产生起到抑制作用,这是因为缩短电弧弧长可以降低等离子体对激光的吸收,提高激光的能量利用率,增加小孔熔透性和稳定性。 创新点： 研究了电弧弧长对激光-电弧复合焊飞溅和底部驼峰的影响,采用高速摄像方法对底部熔池流动进行了观察,进一步明确了激光-电弧复合焊接焊缝底部驼峰的产生原因。     

A new material model for 2D numerical simulation of serrated chip formation when machining titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V

A new material constitutive law is implemented in a 2D finite element model to analyse the chip formation and shear localisation when machining titanium alloys. The numerical simulations use a commercial finite element software (FORGE 2005^®) able to solve complex thermo-mechanical problems. One of the main machining characteristics of titanium alloys is to produce segmented chips for a wide range of cutting speeds and feeds. The present study assumes that the chip segmentation is only induced by adiabatic shear banding, without material failure in the primary shear zone. The new developed model takes into account the influence of strain, strain rate and temperature on the flow stress and also introduces a strain softening effect. The tool chip friction is managed by a combined Coulomb–Tresca friction law. The influence of two different strain softening levels and machining parameters on the cutting forces and chip morphology has been studied. Chip morphology, cutting and feed forces predicted by numerical simulations are compared with experimental results.