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Optimization of weld bead geometry in the activated GMA welding process via a grey-based Taguchi method

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Abstract

We optimized the weld bead geometry of 6061 aluminum alloy welds pre-coated with activating flux before gas metal arc (GMA) welding. In this activated GMA welding process, there were five single component fluxes used in the initial experiment to evaluate the penetration capability of bead-on-plate GMA welds. Based on the higher penetration of weld bead, two single component fluxes were selected to create mixed component flux in next stage. The grey-based Taguchi method was employed to obtain the optimal welding parameters that were considered with multiple quality characteristics such as penetration, depth-to-width ratio (DWR) and fusion area of GMA welds. The experimental procedure of the proposed approach not only increases penetration of 6061 aluminum alloy welds, but also improves the DWR and fusion area of GMA butt-joint welds simultaneously.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industry Technology Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan

    Hsuan-Liang Lin

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan

    Jia-Ching Yan

Authors
  1. Hsuan-Liang Lin
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  2. Jia-Ching Yan
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Correspondence to Hsuan-Liang Lin.

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Recommended by Associate Editor Vikas Tomar

Hsuan-Liang Lin received the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. He is an associate professor in the Department of Industry Technology Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan. His research activities include welding technology, vehicle engineering and quality engineering such as Taguchi method, neural network, genetic algorithm and its applications.

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Lin, HL., Yan, JC. Optimization of weld bead geometry in the activated GMA welding process via a grey-based Taguchi method. J Mech Sci Technol 28, 3249–3254 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0735-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0735-9

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