Modeling and optimization of weld bead profile with varied welding stages for weathering steel A606.

The profile of the welding bead changes with the welding process parameters during the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process, the top reinforcement disappears, and the penetration becomes sunken when the excessive welding heat input is applied. However, little research work is specially planned to cope with the studying of welding bead under these circumstances. A systematic study of the relationships among the welding process variables and welding bead geometric features as well as optimization of the welding quality is presented. The influences of the welding technological parameters (voltage, welding speed, and wire feed speed) on the welding geometry were revealed, and the models correlating them were established. The features of the weld bead geometry were composed of top reinforcement width, top reinforcement height, penetration depth, bottom reinforcement width, and bottom reinforcement height. By the desirability function approach, the recommendation of suitable welding parameters to meet the contradicting demands of multiple bead geometric features is fulfilled. The microstructure in different welding regions and mechanical performances of the welding joints produced by the verification test were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]