Hybridization of filler wire in multi-pass gas metal arc welding of SA516 Gr70 carbon steel

In the present investigation, multi-pass gas metal arc welding (GMAW) of SA516 Gr70 carbon steel was carried out by different filler wires such as solid, metal cored and flux cored, wherein, other process parameters were kept constant. The hybrid approach of multi-pass filler wires was applied to obtain three different welds. The root pass was filled by a solid wire for all three cases while the subsequent filler pass was applied through solid, flux-cored and metal cored filler wires, respectively. Metallographic, mechanical and metallurgical analyses such as macrograph study, optical microscopy, tensile testing and hardness variations were performed to address the quality of weld. The results revealed that defect-free sound welds were produced by the hybrid approach of different filler wires in multi-pass GMAW. Overall cost and time reduction can be achieved through hybrid filler welds, without affecting their mechanical strength. Angular distortion was reported minimum at hybrid weld of solid and metal cored filler wire. Maximum reinforcement with higher penetration was observed at weld of solid and metal cored filler wire. Impact toughness was reported higher in case of hybrid weld of solid and flux cored filler wire. Higher macro hardness was reported at weld of solid and flux cored filler wire.