P. Sathiya

Simulation and parameter optimization of flux cored arc welding using artificial neural network and particle swarm optimization algorithm

Flux cored arc welding (FCAW) process is a fusion welding process in which the welding electrode is a tubular wire that is continuously fed to the weld area. It is widely used in industries and shipyards for welding heavy plates. Welding input parameters play a very significant role in determining the quality of a weld joint. This paper addresses the simulation of weld bead geometry in FCAW process using artificial neural networks (ANN) and optimization of process parameters using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The input process variables considered here include wire feed rate (F); voltage (V); welding speed (S) and torch Angle (A) each having 5 levels. The process output characteristics are weld bead width, reinforcement and depth of penetration. As per the statistical design of experiments by Taguchi L25 orthogonal array, bead on plate weldments were made. The experimental results were fed to the ANN algorithm for establishing a relationship between the input and output parameters. The results were then embedded into the PSO algorithm which optimizes the process parameters subjected to the objectives. In this study the objectives considered are maximization of depth of penetration, minimization of bead width and minimization of reinforcement.

Experimental Investigation of the A-TIG Welding Process of Incoloy 800H

This work attempts to investigate the influence of different flux powders in the activated-TIG welding process of the Incoloy 800H super alloy. Three different fluxes (SiO2, ZnO, and 50% ZnO +50% SiO2) were used and welded under the same conditions and process parameters. The oxide fluxes used were in the form of nanoparticle powders. The metallurgical characteristics and mechanical properties were analyzed, and it was found that the SiO2 flux could increase the depth of penetration whereas a ZnO flux was detrimental to this effect. Although a SiO2 flux increased the depth of penetration, it led to a sensitization issue in the grain boundary. The combination of the fluxes 50% ZnO +50% SiO2 produced a moderate increase in the depth of penetration compared to ZnO flux-coated weldments, but revealed a dendritic structure in the weld region.

Modeling and optimization of flux cored arc welding by genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to optimize the process parameters (wire feed rate (F), voltage (V), welding speed (S) and torch angle (A)) in order to obtain the optimum bead geometry (bead width (W), reinforcement (R) and depth of penetration (P)), considering the ranges of the process parameters using evolutionary algorithms, namely genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm. Design/methodology/approach – The modeling of welding parameters in flux cored arc welding process using a set of experimental data and regression analysis, and optimization using GA and SA algorithm. Findings – The adequate mathematical model was developed. The multiple objectives were optimized satisfactorily by the GA and SA algorithms. The feasible solution results are very closer to the optimized results and the percentage error was found to be negligibly small. Originality/value – The optimal welding parameters were identified in order to increase the productivity. The welding input parameters effec...

Optimizing the weld bead characteristics of super austenitic stainless steel (904L) through grey‐based Taguchi method

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to optimize the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process input parameters simultaneously considering the multiple output variables (bead width (BW), bead height (BH) and depth of penetration (DP)).Design/methodology/approach – Grey‐based Taguchi approach was used for designing the experiment, L27 orthogonal array was used which composed of three levels and 27 rows, which means that 27 experiments were carried out. Design of experiments was selected based on a four welding parameters with three levels each. The selected welding parameters for this paper are gas flow rate, voltage, travel speed and wire feed rate. The bead‐on‐plate welding trials are carried out on AISI 904L super austenitic stainless steel (SASS) sheets and evaluate the shape of the fusion zone depends upon a number of input parameters.Findings – Bead‐on‐plate welding of 904L SASS sheet is successfully performed (without any cracks and discontinuity) by GMAW process and the bead profiles are measured. The...

Multi-objective Optimization of Continuous Drive Friction Welding Process Parameters Using Response Surface Methodology with Intelligent Optimization Algorithm

The optimum friction welding (FW) parameters of duplex stainless steel (DSS) UNS S32205 joint was determined. The experiment was carried out as the central composite array of 30 experiments. The selected input parameters were friction pressure (F), upset pressure (U), speed (S) and burn-off length (B), and responses were hardness and ultimate tensile strength. To achieve the quality of the welded joint, the ultimate tensile strength and hardness were maximized, and response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to create separate regression equations of tensile strength and hardness. Intelligent optimization technique such as genetic algorithm was used to predict the Pareto optimal solutions. Depending upon the application, preferred suitable welding parameters were selected. It was inferred that the changing hardness and tensile strength of the friction welded joint influenced the upset pressure, friction pressure and speed of rotation.

Process Parameter Optimization of AISI 316L(N) Weld Joints Produced using Flux-Cored Arc Welding Process

Bead on plate welds were carried out on AISI 316L(N) austenitic stainless steel using flux cored arc welding process. The bead on plates weld was conducted as per L25 orthogonal array with statistical design of experiment technique. In this paper, the welding parameters will be optimized based on the weld bead geometry such as depth of penetration, bead width and weld reinforcement. Grey relational analysis and desirability approach are used to optimize the input parameters like wire feed rate, voltage, travel speed and torch angle while considering the multiple output variables simultaneously. Confirmation experiment has also been conducted to validate the optimized parameters.

Multi-objective optimization of friction welding parameters in AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel and copper joints

Friction welding is a solid-state joining technique, and joining of dissimilar materials has been witnessing tremendous development in various applications. In this study, friction welding is carried out in dissimilar materials, austenitic stainless steel and copper, which find application in power generators. The parameters such as friction pressure, upset pressure, rotational speed and burn-off length are considered to determine its influence on tensile strength, metal loss and weld time. Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array is used for experimental design to maximize the tensile strength as well as minimize the metal loss and weld time. Optimal parameters are determined through multiple performance characteristics, and it is found that friction pressure of 22 MPa, upset pressure of 108 MPa, rotational speed of 500 r/min and burn-off length of 1 mm yield good mechanical and metallurgical properties.

Temperature Distribution Modeling of Friction Stir Spot Welding of AA 6061‐T6 Using Finite Element Technique

Friction stir welding (FSW), a process that involves joining of metals without fusion of filler materials. It is used already in routine, as well as critical application for the joining of structural components made of Aluminum and its alloys. Indeed it has been convincingly demonstrated that the process results in strong and ductile joints, some times in systems, which have proved difficult using conventional welding techniques. The process is most suitable for components that are flat & long (plates & sheets) but it can be adapted for pipes, hollow sections and positional welding. The welds are created by the combined action of frictional heating and mechanical deformation, due to a rotating tool. Recently, a new technology called friction stir spot welding (FSSW) has been developed that has a several advantages over the electric resistance welding process widely used in automotive industry in terms of weld quality and process efficiency. This welding technology involves a process similar to FSW, except that, instead of moving the tool along the weld seam, the tool only indents the parts, which are placed on top of each other. The conditions under which the deposition process in FSSW is successful are not fully understood. However, it is known that only under specific thermo‐mechanical conditions does a weld formation occur. The objective of the present work is to analyze the primary conditions under which the cavity behind the tool is filled. For this, a fully coupled thermo‐mechanical three‐dimensional FE model has been developed in ABAQUS/Explicit using the adaptive meshing scheme and the Johnson‐Cook material law. The contact forces are modeled by Coulomb’s law of friction, making the contact condition highly solution dependent. Temperature graph in the radial direction as well as stress, strain plots are presented.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON FRICTION STIR WELDING OF CRYOROLLED AA2219 ALUMINUM ALLOY JOINTS

In this paper, experimental investigation on cryorolled aluminum AA2219-T87 plate by using friction stir welding (FSW) process is carried out. AA2219-T87 plates with a size of 200×100×22.4 mm were rolled and reduced to 12.2mm thickness (more than 45% of reduction in total thickness of the base material) at cryogenic temperature (operating temperature range −90–−30∘C). The cryorolled (CR) plates have reduced grain size, improved hardness and increased corrosion resistance property compared with the uncryorolled AA2219-T87 plates. FSW joints of cryorolled AA2219-T87 plates were prepared using cylindrical threaded FSW tool pin profile. Mechanical and metallurgical behaviors of friction stir welded joints were analyzed and the effects of the FSW process parameters are discussed in this paper. The variation of microhardness in the FSW joint regions were correlated with the microstructure of FSW joints. Cryorolled plate and FSW joints were tested for corrosion resistance using potentiodynamic polarization test. FSW joints shows better result during the corrosion resistance analysis compared to base AA2219-T87. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) test results showed that fine α-Al grains with eutectic phase (Al2Cu) were present in the weld nugget (WN). The large clusters of strengthening precipitates were reduced in size and merged with the weld nugget portion.

Experimental Investigation on Friction Welding of UNS S32205 Duplex Stainless Steel

UNS S 32205 duplex stainless steel specimens were joined by continuous drive friction welding process. The experiments were conducted as per the Taguchi (L16 orthogonal array) method. The friction welding process parameters such as heating pressure, heating time, upsetting pressure, upsetting time, and speed of rotation were fixed with low, medium, and high levels of range based on the machine capacity, and the required knowledge was acquired from the preliminary experiments. The joint characterization studies included micro structural examination and evaluation of mechanical properties of the joints. Microhardness variation, impact toughness, and tensile strength of the joints were evaluated. Neither a crack nor an incomplete bonding zone was observed. The tensile strength of the joints was higher than the strength of the base material, and the friction and upsetting pressures were found to influence the joint strength. The tensile strength of all the welds was observed to be increasing with an increase in the rotational speed. The toughness of the friction welds was evaluated at room temperature and also at subzero (cryo) temperature conditions. The toughness for friction welds was found to be superior to the fusion welds of duplex stainless steel at room temperature and cryo conditions. Weldments exhibited better corrosion resistance than the parent material.