UNDERWATER WELDING - AN INVESTIGATION OF DIFFERENTIAL HEAT LOSS IN THE SHIELDED METAL ARC PROCESS

Out of series of problems faced by developing underwater welding technology, one of hte important problems - Rapid Cooling - is investigated through experimental study with an ultimate objective to break through the problem and obtain better quality of weld. Initial part of the thesis presents brief introduction of existing underwater welding processes. Six different configurations of underwater test welds with varying thickness of plates and conditions, i.e. bare-plate at different water temperature, use/combination of flux covering in the arc area and insulation covering on plates to reduce heat loss, have been studied and analyzed for their cooling rates. Each test weld is also macrophotographed for various analysis. The outcome of experimental study have been concluded with the important results that as thickness of plate increases, cooling rate decreases which is in contradiction to air welding. Use of both flux and insulation is proved to the most effective in reducing the cooling rate. Final part of report lists various recommendation for future study.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Sea Grant Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Mehta, A R
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric arc welding; Research; Welding
• Old TRIS Terms: Underwater welding; Welding research
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00159499
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Report/Paper Numbers: MS Thesis
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM