Modelling and Predicting the Effects of Process Parameters for Bead on Plate Characteristics for Submerged Arc Welding of HSLA Steel

Among welding as a joining process submerged arc welding is used successfully from a no of decades for welding thicker and fabricating leak proof sound joints. Leak proof sound joints finds major applications in installation of large distance pipelines of oil and gas industry with HSLA steel as base material. For performing submerged arc welding; selection of welding parameters becomes pre requirement with HSLA steel as base material. The work presented here tries to predict the effect of welding parameters on weld bead shape characteristics. Initial values of these parameters were decided on the basis of trials performed to get the smooth running of the welding setup and continuous weld bead. Central Composite Design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was used to get the experimental design for welding parameters; weld current, arc voltage and welding speed. Finally, mathematical models were formed for reinforcement area (RA), penetration area (PA) and dilution in terms of these welding parameters and significance testing was performed through analysis of variance (F-test).