Product Code: ICAL05_306

Experimental Analysis of Practical Aspects of Hybrid Welding of Thick Sections
Authors:
Edward Reutzel, Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University; State College PA USA
Jay Tressler, Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University; State College PA USA
Shawn Kelly, Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University; State College PA USA
Richard Martukanitz, Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University; State College PA USA
Presented at ICALEO 2005

Laser-Gas Metal Arc (GMA) hybrid welding is fast making the transition from laboratory to production, in industries as diverse as shipbuilding to automobile manufacture. However, many aspects of hybrid laser welding are not well understood. This work presents a summary of recent experimental explorations into various practical aspects of hybrid welding, such as joint design, gap tolerance, welding through conventional tack welds, and others. An assortment of analyses are run, including metallurgical analysis using scanning electron microscopy and radiographic testing, weld formation analysis via macroscopy, mechanical properties evaluations using tensile and bend testing, process analysis using high speed imaging.