Effect of electrode negativity ratio and heat input on bead and arc characteristics in submerged arc welding

Abstract

The effect of electrode negativity (EN) ratio, current and welding speed on bead profile and arc stability in case of constant current square wave power source were investigated by conducting bead on plate (BOP) welding experiments on API X80 steel. In addition to this, effects of heat input on prior austenite grain (PAG) size, microstructure and hardness of coarse grain heat affected zone (CGHAZ) were also studied. Deleterious hump angle created due to EN ratio variation, decreased with increase in EN ratio and welding current. Average PAG size and spacing between bainite laths increased from 17.09 µm to 62.66 µm and 0.67 µm to 50 µm respectively with increase in heat input from 0.69 kJ/mm to 3.6 kJ/mm, which altered CGHAZ hardness. Arc stability and metal transfer mode for different EN ratios and currents were analyzed by means of probability density distribution (PDD) graphs of current and voltage transients recorded using a digital storage oscilloscope. PDD graph show better arc stability at higher currents and during the electrode positive (EP) part of current waveform.