GAS METAL ARC WELDING OF ADVANCED HIGH STRENGTH STEEL DEVELOPMENTS FOR OPTIMIZED WELD CONTROL AND IMPROVED WELD QUALITY Adrian N. A. Elliott Advanced Body Construction Manufacturing & Processes Department Ford Research & Advanced Engineering
Drivers for GMAW AHSS Collaborative Work Benefit AHSS (DP600) Higher strength vs. mild steel/hsla allows reduced gauge of steel for frame weight save Concern AHSS sensitive to heat input HAZ more significant mechanical property (in particular, fatigue) loss is greater Customers: Ford Product Development F150 Successor Partners: The Lincoln-Electric Co. Welding Equipment Supplier Metro Technologies Tooling & Process Development AET Integration Welding Optimization & Fatigue Analysis
Factors influencing GMAW Quality, Productivity & Cost Design Equipment Selection Process Set-Up Production Control Base Material Type and Thickness Coating Type and Thickness Joint Design Fixturing and Joint Fit-Up Power Source Type Consumable Type Welding Progression Weld Length Welding Parameters (Current, Voltage, etc.) Electrode Alignment Torch Angle/Push-Drag Angle Tip to Work Distance (CTWD) Part Cleanliness Equipment Maintenance Area of concentration
Effect of GMAW on Weld Quality Arc Welding affects Micro-Structure and Mechanical Properties Effects vary with material chemistry, strain and bake temperatures Thermal Cycle results in a Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) HAZ size depends on heat input and thermal transfer from joint HAZ is more pronounced for higher strength grades HAZ with hard/soft regions may act as metallurgical notch
Considerations for AHSS Weld Quality Carbon Steels up to and including HSLA welded w/ high heat inputs AHSS more sensitive to heat input, compounded by potential for thinner gauges always resulted in weld wire being the strongest with AHSS may not be Consider higher strength wires, but weld metal may be susceptible to brittle failure, or cored wires new development impurities part of process AHSS more sensitive to impurities
Coupon DOE #1 (Modified Cubic 3-Level 58 Runs) - DP600 3.4 mm to MS 3.8 mm Factors: Wire Feed Speed (WFS) @ 159-201 mm/s (375-475 /min) Travel Speed (TS) @ 13.5-24.1 mm/s (32-57 /min) (Actual variable SQRT WFS/TS (2.89-3.45) Voltage (varied with WFS) 23.8V @ 159; 24.5V @ 182; 25.0V @ 201 mm/s WFS Contact Tip to Work Distance (CTWD) @ 12.5-19.0 mm (0.50-0.75 ) Torch Angle (25-55º from vertical) Push/Drag Angle (5-25º from vertical) Wire Placement (0-2 wire diameters from joint) Response: Weld Profile from Laser Scan (Leg Size/Bead Convexity/Toe Angle) Weld Dimensions from Section (Toe Angle & Penetration) Load to Failure (Tensile Lap-Shear) Fatigue Life (Tensile Shear - 3 Loads, 3 Replicates, R=0.1) Micro-Hardness Traverse/Micro-Structure
Results of DOE #1 Tensile Lap-Shear 97% of the 174 samples broke at base metal (Ave load 36 kn MS UTS) 3% remaining broke between weld metal and HAZ on MS side at lower load (Ave 33 kn) - due to lack of fusion caused by extreme welding parameters. Samples were only runs welded with at least 4 of 5 factors below: All 4 were the smallest weld size All 4 welded at highest travel speeds (23-24 mm/s or 54-57 in/min) All 4 welded w/ -2 wire placement (wire center 2 diameters from upper plate) 3 of 4 welded w/ 25 from vertical torch angle (directs arc force/heat to bottom plate) 3 of 4 welded w/ 5 push angle (directs more of arc force/heat into bottom plate) Combination of small weld with high travel speed results in lower heat input and less penetration. Locating arc out 2 wire diameters, a 25 torch angle and 5 push angle all direct less heat into upper plate. Mild Steel base metal break Mild Steel HAZ to weld break
DOE #1 Results Weld Size and Profile Run Factor 1 WFS mm/s ("/min) Travel Speed mm/s ("/min) Factor 2 SQRT(WF S/TS) Factor 3 CTWD mm (") Factor 4 Torch Angle º Factor 5 Push/Drag Angle º Factor 6 Wire Placement diams. Voltage V Average Current A Heat Input J/mm 14 159 (375) 19.1 (45.0) 2.89 19.1 (0.75) 55 5-2 23.8 267 335.34 50 201 (475) 16.9 (40.0) 3.45 14.2 (0.56) 55 25 0 25.0 342 505.69 19 191 (450) 16.1 (38.0) 3.45 12.5 (0.50) 25 5 0 24.2 361 545.68 Undercut: 0.59 mm Toe Angle: 122.8 Degree Weld Size linked to heat input (controlled by WFS, TS and CTWD); Profile influenced by all factors Toe Angle: 120.4 Degree Toe Angle: 105.4 Degree Run 14 Run 50 Toe-angle deemed critical for mechanical performance assuming adequate penetration in both substrates Run 19
DOE #1 Micro-Hardness Run Factor 1 WFS mm/s ("/min) Travel Speed mm/s ("/min) Factor 2 SQRT(WF S/TS) Factor 3 CTWD mm (") Factor 4 Torch Angle º Factor 5 Push/Drag Angle º Factor 6 Wire Placement diams. Voltage V Average Current A Heat Input J/mm 14 159 (375) 19.1 (45.0) 2.89 19.1 (0.75) 55 5-2 23.8 267 335.34 50 201 (475) 16.9 (40.0) 3.45 14.2 (0.56) 55 25 0 25.0 342 505.69 19 191 (450) 16.1 (38.0) 3.45 12.5 (0.50) 25 5 0 24.2 361 545.68 No significant change in DP600 hardness at HAZ - exists for all samples (range 165-188 HV) Microhardness (HV500g) 300 250 200 150 100 DP600 Microhardness Traverse of Samples with Three Different Heat Inputs Weld 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 Distance (mm) Mild Steel Heat input influences weld hardness, but not HAZ A-14 Lowest Heat Input A-50 Best High Cycle Fatigue A-19 Highest Heat Input
DOE #1 Micro-Structure Weld Metal Weld Metal CGHAZ Run 14 CGHAZ Weld Metal Run 50 CGHAZ Coarser CGHAZ Microstructure Heat input threshold for influence on grain structure? Run 19
DOE #1 Tensile Lap-Shear Fatigue relative to Heat Input Fatigue Life of Samples with Three Different Heat Inputs 250 200 Variable Run 14 Lowest Heat Inpurt Run 19 Highest Heat Input Run 50 Best High Cycle Fatigue Stress Range (Mpa) 150 100 50 10000 100000 Cycles to Failure 1000000 3 load levels: 8.9 kn (2000 lbf), 11.1 kn (2500 lbf) and 15.6 kn (3500 lbf) w/ R=0.1 & frequency=10 Hz Run #19 highest heat input - 8 of 9 samples broke at toe on DP600 side Run #14 lowest heat input - 7 of 9 samples broke at toe on DP600 side Run #50 high heat input 5 of 9 broke at DP600 and showed highest fatigue life
Fatigue S-N Curve for all samples S-N Curve logten(s) = 3.094-0.2163 logten(n) S, Stress Range ( MPa ) 200 150 100 90 80 70 60 10000 100000 N, Cycles to Failure 1000000 Regression 95% C I 95% PI S 0.0444567 R-Sq 80.3% R-Sq(adj) 80.2% Equal distribution of Type A (DP600) & B (mild steel) failures
DOE #1 Effect of Weld Geometry and Heat Input on Fatigue Life Stress Range (Mpa) Fatigue Life of Samples with Different Weld Geometry and Heat Inputs 250 200 150 100 Variable Run 14 Lowest Heat Inpurt Run 19 Highest Heat Input Run 36 Improper Weld Geometry Run 50 Desired Weld Geometry Toe Angle: 129.3 Degree Tensile broke between MS Weld & HAZ Run 36 50 10000 100000 Cycles to Failure 1000000 Run Factor 1 WFS mm/s ("/min) Travel Speed mm/s ("/min) Factor 2 SQRT(WF S/TS) Factor 3 CTWD mm (") Factor 4 Torch Angle º Factor 5 Push/Drag Angle º Factor 6 Wire Placement diams. Voltage V Average Current A Heat Input J/mm 14 159 (375) 19.1 (45.0) 2.89 19.1 (0.75) 55 5-2 23.8 267 335.34 50 201 (475) 16.9 (40.0) 3.45 14.2 (0.56) 55 25 0 25.0 342 505.69 19 191 (450) 16.1 (38.0) 3.45 12.5 (0.50) 25 5 0 24.2 361 545.68 36 201 (475) 24.1 (57.0) 2.89 19.1 (0.75) 25 5-2 25.7 318 339.69
DOE #1 Models relating Effect of Weld Geometry and Variables on Fatigue 1. Correlation of Fatigue Life to Weld Dimensions Input: Vertical Leg Size, Toe Angle, Max Top Plate Penetration, Max Bottom Plate Penetration, Horizontal Leg Size, Upper Fusion-Line Angle Output: Fatigue Life/Location at 8.9, 11.1, 15.6 kn (2000, 2500, 3500 lbf) 2. Correlation of Weld Dimensions to Welding Variables Input: WFS, WFS/TS Ratio, CTWD, Torch Angle, Push Angle, Wire Placement Output: Vertical Leg Size, Horizontal Leg Size, Toe Angle, Max Bottom Plate Penetration, Max Top Plate Penetration, Undercut, Upper Fusion- Line Angle, Min Hardness in DP600 HAZ region 3. Correlation of Fatigue Life to Welding Variables Input: WFS, TS, CTWD, Torch Angle, Push Angle, Wire Placement Output: Fatigue Life at 8.9, 11.1, 15.6 kn (2000, 2500, 3500 lbf)
DOE #1 Model (#1) relating Effect of Weld Geometry on Fatigue Life Fatigue life 8.9 kn (2000 lb) load (Response Surface Linear Model R-Sq = 0.65) increases w/ increasing vertical leg size decreasing bottom plate (DP600) penetration decreasing top plate (Mild Steel) penetration decreasing upper fusion line angle Failure location at 8.9 kn (2000 lb) load more likely to be in mild steel base metal w/ decreasing vertical leg size increasing horizontal leg size Fatigue life 15.6 kn (3500 lb) load (Response Surface Linear Model R-Sq = 0.56) increases w/ increasing vertical leg size increasing bottom toe angle decreasing bottom plate (DP600) penetration Failure location at 15.6 kn (3500 lb) load more likely to be in mild steel base metal w/ decreasing vertical leg size increasing bottom toe angle increasing bottom plate (DP600) penetration increasing horizontal leg size
Sample ID: 50 A-3 Vertical Leg 3.89 mm; Horizontal Leg 5.87 mm; Toe Angle 129º; Bottom Plate Penetration 47% Top Plate Penetration 0.59 mm High Cycle Fatigue: 221,112 cycles Failure Location: DP600 Toe DOE #1 Model (#1) - Effect of Weld Geometry on Fatigue Failure Mode Primary crack initiates at weld toe on DP600 and propagates in DP600 (Type A)
Primary crack initiates at weld root and propagates in HAZ and/or weld metal on mild steel side (Type B) Sample ID: 32B-6 Vertical Leg 3.86 mm; Horizontal Leg 6.10 mm; Toe Angle 137º; Bottom Plate Penetration 53% Top Plate Penetration 0.66 mm High Cycle Fatigue: 198,503 cycles Failure Location: Weld Root & Mild Steel HAZ DOE #1 Model (#1) Effect of Weld Geometry on Fatigue Failure Mode
DOE #1-1st Model Optimization Results Optimization of Weld Dimensions for Highest Fatigue Life Min vertical leg size (90% of 3.4 mm) = 3.1 mm Max bottom plate penetration (70% of 3.4 mm) = 2.4 mm For Fatigue Life 12,500 cycles min @ 15.6 kn (3500 lb) max load 39,000 cycles min @ 11.1 kn (2500 lb) max load 81,000 cycles min @ 8.9 kn (2000 lb) max load Minimum bottom toe angle = 120º Back angle = 98º max Top plate penetration = 1.1 mm max 160.0 Toe Angle (º) 150.0 140.0 130.0 120.0 110.0 11.1 kn (2500 lbf) Fatigue Cycle: 39000 min 15.6 kn (3500 lbf) Fatigue Cycles: 12500 min 8.9 kn (2000 lbf) Fatigue Cycle: 81000 min 100.0 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 Vertical Leg Size (mm)
Model #2 Summary - Effect of Weld Variables on Weld Dimensions Bottom Plate Penetration (linear model R-Sq = 0.78) decreases with decreasing wire feed speed (WFS) increasing contact tip to work distance (CTWD) increasing torch angle increasing push/drag angle decreasing wire placement away from joint Vertical leg size in mild steel (linear model R-Sq = 0.39) increases with increasing WFS/TS ratio decreasing wire placement away from joint Horizontal Leg (2 factor interaction R-Sq = 0.79 - lack of fit) increases with decreasing WFS increasing WFS/TS Ratio increasing push angles increasing wire placement away from joint Bottom Toe Angle - DP600 (quadratic model R-Sq = 0.76) increases with decreasing WFS increasing WFS/TS ratio at larger torch angles increasing CTWD
DOE #1 Statistical Significance of Factors on Weld Geometry (Toe Angle) from Laser Scan Toe Angle increases with lower WFS and higher WFS/TS ratios Toe Angle X = A: Wire Feed Speed Y = B: SQRT(WFS/TS) Actual Factors C: CTWD = 12.50 134.8 D: Torch Angle = 40 E: Push/Drag Angle = 15 132.1 F: Wire Placement = -2 129.5 ANOVA for Response Surface Reduced Cubic Model Analysis of variance table [Partial sum of squares] Sum of Mean F P Value Source Squares DF Square Value Prob > F Model 6522.46 28.00 232.95 13.86 < 0.0001 significant A 485.35 1 485.35 28.88 < 0.0001 B 481.18 1 481.18 28.63 < 0.0001 C 471.06 1 471.06 28.03 < 0.0001 D 101.84 1 101.84 6.06 0.0202 E 598.50 1 598.50 35.62 < 0.0001 F 1012.71 1 1012.71 60.26 < 0.0001 Lack of Fit 416.63 23 18.11 1.68 0.2960 not significant Pure Error 53.90 5 10.78 Std. Dev. 4.10 R-Squared 0.93 Mean 127.37 Adj R-Square 0.87 C.V. 3.22 Pred R-Squar 0.69 Toe Angle 126.8 124.2 159.00 3.45 169.50 3.31 180.00 3.17 190.50 3.03 A: Wire Feed Speed B: SQRT(WFS/TS) 201.00 2.89 "Pred R-Squared" of 0.6883 is in reasonable agreement with "Adj R-Squared" of 0.8654.
DOE #1 Model (#3) relating Effect of Weld Variables on Fatigue Life Fatigue life at 8.9 kn (2000 lb) load (RSM 2FI Model R-Sq = 0.73) increases w/ decreasing WFS increasing WFS/TS ratio (decreasing travel speed) increasing torch angle at high push angles increasing push angle at higher WFS/TS ratios and/or torch angles wire placement based on WFS/TS ratio Fatigue life at 15.6 kn (3500 lb) load (Response Surface 2FI Model R-Sq = 0.73) increases with decreasing WFS increasing WFS/TS ratio (decreasing TS - more so at larger wire placements) increasing CTWD increasing torch angle increasing push angle at high torch angles wire placement based on WFS/TS ratio increasing wire placement at large push angles DESIGN-EXPERT Plot 0.00 8.9 kn (2000 lbf) Fatigue Cycles X = B: SQRT(WFS/TS) Ratio Y = F: Wire placement Actual Factors A: WFS = 180-0.50 C: CTWD = 15.87 D: Torch Angle = 40.00 E: Push/Drag Angle = 15.00 F: Wire placement -1.00-1.50 8.9 kn (2000 lbf) Fatigue Cycles 120000 105000 135000 150000 165000 180000-2.00 2.89 3.03 3.17 3.31 3.45 B: SQRT(WFS/TS) Ratio
DOE #1 Process Window (WFS/TS) w/ defined Weld Leg for max Fatigue Strength (8.9 kn) DESIGN-EXPERT Plot Overlay Plot Design Points 3.45 Overlay Plot Weld Leg (Upper) Size and Toe Angle both significant as regards Fatigue Life X = A: WFS Y = B: SQR (WFS/TS) Actual Factors C: CTWD = 0.63 D: Torch Angle = 40.00 E: Push Angle = 15.00 F: Wire Placement = -1.00 /15.9 mm B: SQR (WFS/TS) 3.31 3.17 3.03 2.89 TS: 16.9 mm/s (40 /min) Travel Speed: 16.9 Weld Leg 1: 3.4 Fatigue: 125000 TS: 21.2 mm/s (50 /min) Travel Speed: 21.2 158.75 169.31 179.88 190.44 201.00 375 425 /min A: WFS (mm/s) 2 475
DOE #2: #1 DP600 Conclusions 3.4 mm/m1a33 & Further 4.7 Work mm DOE Design Conclusions Actual Factors C: CTWD = 0.63 D: Torch Angle = 40 E: Push/Drag Angle = 15 F: Wire Placement = -1 Overlay Plot Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Run 4 Run 5 3.45 Fatigue Life of Lap welded joint between DP600 3.4 mm and WFS (ipm) 425 375 375 475 475 Travel Mild Speed Steel (ipm) 3.8 42 mm 32increased 45 40 by: 55 Optimum decreasing Wire Feed Speed decreasing Travel Speed Increasing CTWD Increasing Torch Angle Increasing Push Angle Increasing Wire Placement away SQRT(WFS/TS) from joint (linked to other parameters) Further Work 2.89 (2.7 mm) mild steel, and DP600 to itself 375 400 425 450 475 3.31 3.17 3.03 Run 2 Travel S 31.9744 Max Bot 1.40969 Vertical 3.91586 Toe Angl 142.848 X Travel 375.18 S 42.2076 Y Max Bot 3.43 1.74398 Vertical 3.49635 Toe Angl 136.197 X 425.07 Y 3.18 Travel S 44.9434 Max Bot 1.41165 Vertical 3.29361 Toe Angl 136.128 X 375.51 Y 2.89 Wire Feed Speed Run 4 Travel S 39.9412 Max Bot 2.1518 Vertical 3.68464 Toe Angl 135.438 X 474.33 Y 3.45 Run 1 Travel S 54.9922 Max Bot 2.1518 Vertical 3.09965 Toe Angl 130.411 X 474.33 Y 2.94 Continued DOE s using DP600 to Run thicker 3 (4.7 mm) and thinner Based on process optimization from DOE #1 Run 5
GMAW of AHSS for Quality, Productivity & Cost Thank You