Dissimilar welding between conventional and high strength low alloy naval steels with the use of robotic metal cored arc welding

The increasing trend of high strength low alloy steel application in the shipbuilding industry dictates the necessity for an investigation of their welds with conventional high strength steels. In this study, conventional and high strength low alloy naval steel plates 12 mm thick, were joined together in a butt joint configuration, using the metal cored arc welding technique and low heat input (1.0 kJ/mm). The weld was examined in terms of microhardness, microstructure, and tensile performance. The effect of multiple thermal cycles on the formation of primary and secondary microstructures was also discussed. The results revealed a smooth distribution of the microhardness across the different weld regions. Inside the heat affected zones (HAZs) and the weld metal various constituents were revealed, with ferrite in various forms (lath-like, acicular, semi-equiaxed, polygonal) appearing as the predominant phase, alongside martensite and austenite grains, and pearlite (lamellar and degenerated). The tensile testing indicated the base metal of the conventional high strength steel to be the weakest link of the weld, which was mainly attributed to its ferritic-pearlitic microstructure and the coarse grain size. The overall tensile performance of the weld remained at high levels, with a simultaneous reduction in the elongation after fracture in comparison to the base metals.