Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties and Metallograpical Characterization of ASTM A36 Steel Welded Joints, with GMAW Process

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the mechanical properties and carry out the metallographic characterization of the butt-welded joints of ASTM A36 steel, with ER70S-6 filler material under the GMAW process. It was developed from a quantitative point of view attached to a correlational and experimental approach, through data collection techniques and content analysis. The welding process was based on established parameters such as voltage, amperage, and wire feeding speed, which were then evaluated to develop the experimental process, evaluated properties, and metallographically characterized welded joints. Three plate thicknesses were analyzed, which were welded in various combinations with different parameter values, obtaining four combinations for each thickness. In each of these combinations, ultrasound, traction, face, and root bending tests were carried out. Later, the metallographic analysis was carried out based on three analysis zones: fusion zone, heat-affected zone, and base-metal zone, in addition to this, the width of the heat-affected zone, the grain size, and the hardness were also analyzed. Based on the above, five combinations were identified whose beads presented good properties, 250 IPM combinations being the most outstanding. These combinations presented good weldability in the three thicknesses considered, despite having different voltage and amperage ranges.