MODELLING THE WELD DEPOSITION RATE AND WELD PENETRATION OF MILD STEEL PIPE

ABSTRACT

For a welded joint to withstand any load it was design for, maximum deposition of weld bead is preferable along side a good weld penetration into the parent metal. This study is carried out to optimize the factors responsible for achieving maximum deposition and penetration rate of mild steel metal using TIG welding process. An experimental matrix was developed with the design expert software, which resulted in a composite design. Mild steel plate of 10mm thickness was cut to size and welded with the Tungsten Inert Gas. Thereafter the deposition rate and penetration rate were determined for all the weld samples, the experimental results were used as the data. The RSM model selected the quadratic model as the suitable model for the deposition and penetration rate test because it has a p – value < 0.05. From the numerical optimization results it was observed that a current of 120amp, voltage of 20volt, and gas flow rate of 12.00 L/min will result in a welding process with the following properties, Deposition Rate of 0.977g/s and Weld Penetration of 5.510mm.