Abstract: The invention relates generally to welding and, more specifically, to electrodes for arc welding, such as Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) or Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW). In one embodiment, a tubular welding wire includes a sheath and a core. The core includes a carbon source and a potassium source that together comprise less than 10% of the core by weight. Furthermore, the carbon source is selected from the group: carbon black, lamp black, carbon nanotubes, and diamond.

Abstract: A steel tower for a wind turbine with a plurality of segments arranged above each other is provided. The segments include steel having different qualities. The quality of the steel is determined by a yield limit of the steel.

Abstract: A system for determining accessibility of a tool to an object is provided. The system provides for selecting one or more sections on the object to be laser shock peened, selecting a region of interest on the one or more sections and determining a set of feasible solutions to access the selected region of interest on each of the one or more sections via use of an accessibility system.

Abstract: A method for determining accessibility of a tool to an object is provided. The method provides for selecting one or more sections on the object to be laser shock peened, selecting a region of interest on the one or more sections and determining a set of feasible solutions to access the selected region of interest on each of the one or more sections via use of an accessibility system. Systems and computer programs that afford functionality of the type defined by this method may be provided by the present technique.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus of metal plates includes an upper mold having a first guide pathway formed vertically inside thereof; a middle mold having a second guide pathway formed vertically inside thereof, where the middle mold is disposed under the upper mold; a lower mold having a metal removing pathway formed vertically inside thereof, where the lower mold is disposed under the middle mold; a heating unit for heating the metal plates and a metal tape; a punch for applying a bonding load to the metal plates; a clamping unit that applies a clamping load for clamping the metal plates to the upper mold; and a bonding unit that applies the bonding load to the punch for bonding the metal plates.

Abstract: A system for laser shock peening includes a laser positioned to direct a laser pulse at a first side of a work piece and a coupler on a second side of the work piece. The system further includes a Doppler shift detector positioned to measure a velocity of the coupler. A method for laser shock peening includes depositing an amount of energy from a laser pulse into a first side of a work piece and transmitting a pulse having a first frequency at a second side of the work piece. The method further includes receiving a reflected pulse having a second frequency from the second side of the work piece and determining the velocity of the work piece based on the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.

Abstract: A method for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) of nickel-aluminide to itself or other nickel-based alloys using a filler wire. Method limitations: I) outer surface of weld groove has 1-2 mm machining, weld groove angle <30°; and root face <3 mm; II) measured temperature 30 cm (12?) from weld torch and 3 mm from groove edge <200° C.; and interpass temperature <85° C. at 3 mm from weld groove edge; III) except for root pass, all filler and cap pass layering should start from nickel-aluminide edge; each bead should be peened; and weld cap pass should overlap nickel-aluminide edge by 3 mm; IV) weld bead layout at the nickel-aluminide edge should be laid at torch angle <30°; V) weld heat input should be 17-23 kJ/in; and VI) linear welding speed is >8.6 cm/min; and deposition rate should be >3.0 cm3/min.

Abstract: A weld fairing apparatus and a welding method using the apparatus effectively prevent a weld metal zone from forming a humping bead. The welding method includes: butting first and second object pieces together; heating the butted first and second object pieces using a heating device, thus forming a weld metal zone; and placing a fairing device such that the fairing device comes into contact with the weld metal zone and fairs the weld metal zone.

Abstract: For stress-crack-sensitive materials, a weld pool is formed on a substrate. The weld pool is simultaneously plastically strained and cooled while the temperature of the hot metal weld pool lies substantially within a predetermined range in which hot cracking typically occurs. The hot metal is plastically strained and cooled until the temperature of the weld material is below the predetermined temperature range associated with hot cracking or until residual stresses in the weld are sufficiently low to preclude cracking in the completed weld.

Abstract: For stress-crack-sensitive materials, a weld pool is formed on a substrate. The weld pool is simultaneously plastically strained and cooled while the temperature of the hot metal weld pool lies substantially within a predetermined range in which hot cracking typically occurs. The hot metal is plastically strained and cooled until the temperature of the weld material is below the predetermined temperature range associated with hot cracking or until residual stresses in the weld are sufficiently low to preclude cracking in the completed weld.

Abstract: An abutting end portions of the strips are heated from below to a temperature range where annealing effects are obtained by means of a movable heating apparatus which performs high-frequency induction heating and a laser beam (or arc or electron beam) is irradiated from above, at the same speed as that of the movable heating apparatus, to laser beam weld (or arc or electron beam weld) the abutting end portions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for depositing an overlay material onto a metal surface. An electroslag strip overlaying process which distributes flux through a trailing flux tube and a forward flux tube eliminates many of the problems associated with electroslag overlaying techniques. The apparatus and method significantly improves the quality of the overlay surface, and permits overlays to be made within the small confines of pipes and pipe fittings having straight or curved surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved titanium metal drum cathode for use in the production of metal foils and a novel method of making the same. The method includes the steps of welding together the ends of a strip of titanium that has been roll formed into a cylinder. During the welding operation some of the weld beads that form the weld are hot peened immediately upon solidification. Upon complete formation of the weld, the formed and welded trip of titanium is subjected to a heat treating cycle that includes a double anneal. Preferably, the strip of titanium metal and the weld metal that is used to form the weld both comprise an addition agent such as yttria.

Abstract: A TIG weld produced from a rapidly solidified dispersion strengthened aluminum base alloy exhibits attributes of the alloy's microstructure extant prior to formation of the weld. TIG welding power is adjusted to minimize energy input into the weld. An arc gas contacts the weld to maximize rapid quenching thereof, while a second gas contacts the undersurface of the weld so that the undersurface of the weld is quenched. Cooling of the weld is further enhanced by a trailing gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof. The weld is shot peened to homogenize the weldment and heat effected zone, and induce residual compressive stresses and cold working therein.

Abstract: A method of producing a transition joint between components produced from two different grades of ferritic steel comprises the steps of successively re-melting in a vacuum arc furnace a first electrode of one of the required grades of ferritic steel and a second electrode of the required grade of ferritic steel and solidifying the melt as it is progressively formed to produce a single composite component.

Abstract: A device for radial machining and welding of a tubular body, said device comprising a tool support which can be placed around the tubular body and including four rollers assuring its guiding in rotation. The support comprises a main body of relatively massive shape which can receive, in its central part, a machining tool or welding tool, and to which are fastened two guide rollers. The guide rollers are placed on both sides of the axis of symmetry of the tool support. Two guide carriages are provided, on each of which guide carriage is mounted a guide roller, and means are provided to modify the position of the guide carriages in relation to the body as a function of the diameter of the tubular body.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing tip sticking during the spot welding of workpieces including ultrasonic vibratory spot welding. The welding apparatus includes a welding tip and a complimentary anvil between which the workpieces to be welded may be inserted. The welding tip is adapted to introduce into and through the workpieces sufficient amounts of energy to effect a weld between the workpieces. Shim material is inserted between the welding tip and the workpieces and/or between the anvil and the workpieces, said shim material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the workpieces. After insertion of the shim material, welding energy is then introduced through the shim material and the workpieces and welds are effected therebetween. The shim material is then torn away and discarded. Apparatus for effecting this method is further provided.

Abstract: An arc welding process for welding a circumferential surface of a fixed pipe etc. by shielding a work part with a shield gas is provided. It is welded by a flat arc formed in a flat sectional view by simultaneously ejecting a gas from nozzles (19) to the arc formed between a welding torch (10) and a product for welding by placing a pair of the gas nozzle (19) for ejecting the gas at the end of the welding torch (10).

Abstract: Surfacing is conducted with horizontal electro-slag welding by using a strip electrode, and by applying a magnetic field, having component perpendicular to a base metal, to a molten metal and slag pool to control the flow of the molten pool.

Abstract: An improved method for hardfacing tool joints for earth boring drill pipe. Annular bands of hardfacing are applied by an apparatus that creates an arc between a consumable steel wire and the tool joint. The steel wire is reciprocated across the width of the band as the tool joint is rotated. Granules of tungsten carbide flow by gravity from a hopper into the weld puddle. The flow of granules into the puddle is stopped just prior to reaching the tie-in point. The arc continues a short distance, creating an overlapping protuberance at the tie-in that is free of granules at the surface. This protuberance can be easily ground smooth with the remainder of the hardfacing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a welding process and apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a welding process and apparatus for performing welding in various positions characterized in that a shifting magnetic field is generated in the vicinity of a molten metal pool to induce an eddy current in the molten metal pool, whereby an electromagnetic driving force is caused to act on the molten metal pool to control the shape of the molten metal pool, and welding is carried out while controlling the shape of the molten metal pool in this manner. According to the welding process and apparatus of the present invention, the welding efficiency can be enhanced irrespective of any welding positions.

Abstract: One side of a source of electrical energy is connected to a dented metal sheet and a hammer electrode connected to the other side of the source is successively brought into instantaneous contact with a multiplicity of locations spaced apart over the dent. The sheet is electrically heated at the location so that stresses in the sheet are relieved, thereby relaxing the sheet and flattening the dent. The electrode is generally L-shaped and has a pointed copper tip surrounded by a safety sleeve with only the point of the tip projecting from the sleeve.