Abstract
The results of the investigations of the effect of the shape of the current decrease curve at the moment of completion of welding on the thermal cycle of welding up the crater and the shape of the surface of the shrinkage cavity are presented. The kinematics of solidification of the weld pool during the final stage of welding is investigated. The optimum shape of the current decrease curve for minimizing the dimensions and optimizing the shape of the shrinkage cavity is determined.