Optimization of tig welding parameters to enhance the tensile strength of AISI 304 L stainless steel joints using taguchi methodology

TIG-welded AISI 304 L austenitic stainless steel samples are studied in the present work. Several butt joints are made. Plate thickness remains 3 mm. nine butt-welded joints were constructed. Each joint sample was made under specific welding settings. This study varied welding current, gas flow rate, and travel speed. L9 Taguchi design was used. The following input parameters are chosen and given three alternative values: welding current (95 A, 105 A and 115 A), gas flow rate (10 L/min, 15 L/min and 20 L/min), and travel speed (2 mm/s, 2.5 mm/s and 3 mm/s). TIG-welded AISI 304 L austenitic stainless steel butt joints have been visually and X-ray radio graphically analyzed. Then, samples were cut and machined to tensile testing dimensions. A small section of butt-welded joints were taken out for metallographic test samples, which were ground, lapped, and etched before examination under a metallurgical microscope. In TIG welding, welding current, gas flow rate, and travel speed affect austenitic stainless steel welded joints. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and percentage of elongation (EL) of welded specimens have also been used to assess weld quality. Taguchi approach predicted optimal parametric setting, and confirmatory test validated optimized answers. Graphics and micrographs depict results. Interpretations and analysis of experimental results have yielded relevant conclusions. The present work may build a comprehensive knowledge base from which working engineers and technicians can select parameter settings with ease in order to produce welds of higher quality that are more accurately, dependably, and predictably.