Closed-loop radiographic process control of arc welding

A new concept of arc weld process control was developed for computerized control and maintenance of the appropriate weld quality. According to this concept information extracted from real-time radiographic images about weld quality, supplemented by sensor data on weld current and voltage, is used for weld power supply control. The major difference from other welding control approaches is that here intelligent closed-loop radiographic control, based on direct information on weld quality, is used. The concept was demonstrated for closed-loop intelligent process control of weld penetration in submerged arc welding. The special software packages for on-line pattern recognition of lack of arc weld penetration and control of the welding power supply were developed in the framework of this task