Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
FORSCHUNG IM INGENIEURWESEN-ENGINEERING RESEARCH, cilt.89, sa.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, the filler wire used in open-arc welding and the solid wires used in gas metal arc welding were comparatively investigated for the welding of S355NL material. Although both techniques are commonly employed in industrial applications, the decrease in the mechanical properties of joints processed in exposed areas using gas metal arc welding due to insufficient gas protection suggests that self-shielding flux-cored wire welding could be an alternative. Their shielding mechanisms and filler wire compositions differ significantly, potentially affecting the microstructure and its mechanical performance. This research analyzes and compares key mechanical properties, including ultimate tensile strength, impact toughness, and Vickers hardness, obtained from welded specimens prepared for each process. The influence of factors such as heat input and the composition of the filler wires and shielding methods on mechanical properties was critically evaluated. Main alloying elements, such as Aluminum in the flux-cored filler, and Manganese and Silicon in solid wires, lead to different microstructures and therefore different mechanical behaviors. The welds using solid wires demonstrated an impact toughness of 4-6 times greater than that of the flux-cored filler. On the other hand, the ultimate tensile strength of the joint welded with flux-cored filler was 583.4 MPa, while it was around 550-560 MPa in the joints welded with solid wires under gas protection. Moreover, in the absence of gas protection, the welded joint using solid wire did not provide an acceptable strength. Analysis and investigations led to the conclusion that self-shielded flux-cored arc welding could be a viable alternative to gas metal arc welding if sufficient gas protection is not achievable, but further precautions and studies would be necessary for applications requiring high impact toughness.