Influence of Orbital TIG Welding Position and Welding Parameters Applied to Low Carbon Steel Pipes

Abstract

The most important characteristic of TIG Orbital welding is the constant change in weld position while the torch follows the geometric profile of the pipes. In this context, large diameter and thick wall pipes orbital TIG welds were investigated, by studying the relation between the welding position, use of constant or pulsed current and magnitude of welding current and the resulting geometric characteristics. Weld beads were made on SAE 1020 carbon steel pipes, as well as transversal section macrographs via optical micrograph. High definition filming contributed to comprehension of the weld pool trend on different welding positions. Geometric characteristics were quantified through the macrographs by using software, and its relations with the cited variables were made. Besides that, a microstructural analysis was made, comparing it to Vickers micro hardness. One could conclude that beads made with pulsed current had higher reinforcement and width, as well as higher hardness and a finer microstructure. The ascendant vertical position resulted in low reinforcement form factor and higher penetration, and the overhead position results in low reinforcement form factor beads.

Key-words:
Welding position; Orbital TIG; Penetration; Reinforcement factor form