Distortion and Transverse Shrinkage Stress in Butt Welds of Steel Plates Under Different Welding Procedure and Parameters of GMAW and SMAW Processes

The transverse shrinkage stress generated in welding of 10, 12 and 25 mm thick steel plates using different welding processes and procedures has been estimated and its varying effect has been verified with the help of experimental measurement of distortion produced during welding. The weld joints of 10 and, 12 mm thick plates have been prepared by using the GMAW and pulsed current GMAW (P-GMAW) processes with standard V-groove design whereas the 25 mm thick plate was welded by SMAW process employing V- groove and narrow groove design. At a given heat input and weld groove size the effect of welding processes and procedures on variation of shrinkage stresses in weld deposit causing distortion of weld joint has been substantiated by estimation of bending stress developed in the weld joint through measurement of bending of the plate. It is observed that the use of PGMAW is advantageous over the GMAW with respect to reduction in stress development in weld joint. The use of narrow groove design has also been found beneficial for reduction of stresses generated in the weld joint in comparison to those observed in case of using V-groove design.