Plasma keyhole welding of mild steel plates for ship yard productions

authored by: M. Schnick, U. Fussel, M. Hertel, H. Schuster, V. Krink, M. Petersen, T. Hassel, F. W. Bach
Abstract: Plasma keyhole welding is a widely used welding technique for tanks, pipes and plant constructions. The keyhole enables deep weld penetrations with a high width-to-depth ratio (aspect). Compared to submerged arc welding or gas metal arc multilayer welding it causes low distortions and less seam preparation efforts. However, plasma keyhole welding is established for stainless steel up to 15 mm plate thickness. But in shipyards, mild steel is used and this material is much more difficult to join by plasma keyhole welding because of the low viscosity of molten steel and its tendency to fall through. The paper describes a sophisticated plasma keyhole welding process for mild steel sheets up to a thickness of 12 mm. The welds are produced I seam welded from one side and without any mechanical preparation of the weld flanks. For a stable welding process we used a new and numerically improved plasma welding torch with a current capacity of 600 A. Furthermore it is necessary to ensure an efficient gas shield for the plasma column, the weld pool and the root penetration. Welding results and welding tests in shipyard environments are shown and discussed.
Organisation(s): Leibniz University Hannover
External Organisation(s): Technische Universität Dresden
Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen GmbH
Type: Conference contribution
Pages: 479-483
No. of pages: 5
Publication date: 11.07.2010
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Metals and Alloys, Surfaces, Coatings and Films

BibTeX

@inproceedings{73f153a1acec4fd98d8e560bc584ef6c,
title = "Plasma keyhole welding of mild steel plates for ship yard productions",
abstract = "Plasma keyhole welding is a widely used welding technique for tanks, pipes and plant constructions. The keyhole enables deep weld penetrations with a high width-to-depth ratio (aspect). Compared to submerged arc welding or gas metal arc multilayer welding it causes low distortions and less seam preparation efforts. However, plasma keyhole welding is established for stainless steel up to 15 mm plate thickness. But in shipyards, mild steel is used and this material is much more difficult to join by plasma keyhole welding because of the low viscosity of molten steel and its tendency to fall through. The paper describes a sophisticated plasma keyhole welding process for mild steel sheets up to a thickness of 12 mm. The welds are produced I seam welded from one side and without any mechanical preparation of the weld flanks. For a stable welding process we used a new and numerically improved plasma welding torch with a current capacity of 600 A. Furthermore it is necessary to ensure an efficient gas shield for the plasma column, the weld pool and the root penetration. Welding results and welding tests in shipyard environments are shown and discussed.",
keywords = "High performance welding, High power welding, Keyhole welding, Plasma arc welding, Shipyards production",
author = "M. Schnick and U. Fussel and M. Hertel and H. Schuster and V. Krink and M. Petersen and T. Hassel and Bach, {F. W.}",
year = "2010",
month = jul,
day = "11",
language = "English",
isbn = "9786056141911",
series = "Proc. of the Int. Conf. on Advances in Welding Science and Technology for Construction, Energy and Transportation, AWST 2010, held in Conj. with the 63rd Annual Assembly of IIW 2010",
pages = "479--483",
booktitle = "Proc. of the Int. Conf. on Advances in Welding Science and Technology for Construction, Energy and Transportation, AWST 2010, held in Conj. with the 63rd Annual Assembly of IIW 2010",
note = "International Conference on Advances in Welding Science and Technology for Construction, Energy and Transportation, AWST 2010, held in Conjunction with the 63rd Annual Assembly of the International Institute of Welding, IIW 2010 ; Conference date: 11-07-2010 Through 17-07-2010",
}