Experimental investigation and optimization of impact strength during low frequency vibration assisted shielded metal arc welded joints

Abstract

Vibration-assisted welding has evolved as a high-quality weld-production technology. Researchers have recently adopted medium and high frequency assisted welding to improve mechanical qualities. The primary goal of this research is to investigate and optimize process parameters while employing low frequency vibration-assisted welding. The impact strength of 5 mm thick butt-welded MS plates is investigated in this study, employing a novel vibratory approach to impart vibration to the workpiece at frequencies ranging from 150 to 250 Hz during shielded metal arc welding. The Taguchi approach has been used to optimize the process parameters viz. Current, vibration time, and vibration frequency on the impact strength of welded specimens. SEM analysis was also used to examine the microstructure of welded MS plates. The results showed that a low heat input of 81 Amp, a frequency of vibration of 171.97 Hz, and a period of vibration of 110.45 s provided the most effective performance in terms of welded MS plate impact strength. The frequency of vibration has been discovered to be the most crucial characteristic affecting the toughness of the welded joint. For LFVW welded butt joints, a fine grain structure is seen, suggesting enhanced impact strength values owing to weld pool excitation.

Keywords:

• Vibration welding
• impact strength
• RSM
• LFVW
• microstructure

Acknowledgement

Authors are thankful to the staff of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sarala Birla University for their assistance, during the experimentation process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.