Paper Title
An Experimental Analysis on Mechanical Integrity of TIG-MIG Hybrid Weldments
Abstract
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding and Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding are now commonly employed
independently in welding applications, owing to their distinct advantages such as high deposition rate,
production efficiency, especially the ability to accomplish high speed welding of thick plates or solid rods.
Moreover clean and sound joints, narrow heat affect zone, better weld shape and deeper weld penetration are
additional features of these two arc welding processes. As a result, mechanical properties of welded assemblies
are much enhanced particularly, joints made of stainless steel, magnesium alloys and low carbon steels. In this
project, the main objective is to develop a new hybrid TIG/MIG welding method for joining dissimilar metal
weldments, examine the mechanical integrity of the welded joints and compare the results with that of
individual welding methods (TIG and MIG independently). In literature, TIG and MIG weldments are
performed independently and the results are compared in welding stainless steel and mild steel materials. In this
attempt, this work is extended by developing a hybrid welding method combining TIG and MIG welding
methods to weld dissimilar metallic materials. Conventionally, mechanical integrity of weldments is analysed
through investigating the mechanical properties such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, % reduction
area and % elongation values related to the weldments. In this attempt too, all of the above integrity elements
are measured and analysed for a comprehensive comparative outcomes. AWS standards are used to prepare the
welding specimens and CNC lathe machine was used to produce the welding specimens that are made of SS 304
grade steel and Mild Steel materials. Design of the experiments and methodology are suitably planned after
deciding the number of sample weldments and the key parameters of welding are analysed and compared with
TIG and MIG with TIG/MIG hybrid. The experimental results reveal that the TIG/MIG hybrid method proves to
be a prospective alternative for TIG and MIG methods and in most of occasions and parameter set, it is found to
result in better mechanical properties.