Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Trajectory Effects into Temperature Distribution and Distortion in the Slot Welding of Steel S235JR

One of the significant factors that impresses on welded parts' performance is welding trajectory. Slotted samples with loop and parallel trajectories welded by two steel plates by S235JR and GMAW process. Temperature distributions were registered by the four K type thermocouples. Heat affected zone dimensions were measured on polished and etched cross-sections of each sample. Induced distortions by dial indicators were gauged along welding process and cooling. To evaluate temperature field and distortion in the welding process, three-dimensional FE models were performed. There was good agreement between the FE model predictions and experimental measurements. The most temperatures, distortions and induced longitudinal and transverse residual stresses by welding in the loop trajectory were more than the parallel.