Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis to Predict the Effects of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Process Parameters on Temperature Distributions and Weldment Zones in Butt and One-Sided Fillet Welds

Abstract

Temperature distribution patterns in any welding process control the microstructure, residual stress, and distortion. Welding process parameters can be optimized to obtain the desired microstructure and depth of penetration. In the present work, a three-dimensional finite element analysis was made to predict the different zones of microstructures for bead-on-plate and one-sided fillet welded joints using the shielded metal arc welding process. Some experiments were conducted to verify the model indirectly. Effects of welding process parameters such as electrode diameter, speed of travel, current, and voltage were considered in the finite element analysis. Various zones in the weldment were theoretically predicted from the finite element analysis and compared with the experimentally measured values.