| Abstract: | Summary Previous papers have shown the high‐current AC‐MIG welding process to be superior to the conventional DC‐MIG process in terms of welding efficiency and welded joint performance. The authors have used the AC‐MIG process to weld heavy‐gauge steel plates at a tensile strength level of 980 MPa. Weld metal with a very low hydrogen content is obtained by the newly developed process, resulting in a reduced preheating temperature during welding of high‐strength steels. The AC‐MIG process also produces an arc climbing effect with electrode negative polarity ‐ a desirable effect in narrow‐gap welding. AC‐MIG weld metal further contains low oxygen, conferring high toughness. As a result, a narrow‐gap AC‐MIG welding process has been developed to ensure high efficiency in processing and metallurgically high‐quality welds in welding of 980 MPa high‐strength steels for penstocks (pressure shafts) in hydroelectric power stations. Welding wires with chemical compositions satisfying suitable strength and toughness criteria have been trial‐manufactured. Suitable welding parameters have also been determined for narrow‐gap welding of penstocks. |
