Effect of Immersion Time in Seawater on the Tensile Strength of Underwater Welded A36 Steel

A36 steelSteels is often used in the maritime industry and port construction that undergoes an underwater weldingWelding process and is immersed in corrosive seawaterSeawater. The welded structure experiences corrosionCorrosion due to immersionImmersion in seawaterSeawater, which causes a decrease in mechanical properties. The purpose of this research is to determine the tensile strength of A36 steelSteels underwater welded joints subjected to seawaterSeawater immersionImmersion. Underwater weldingWelding using the SMAW technique was carried out at a water depth of 5 m with a joint configuration and weldingWelding parameters in accordance with the approved WeldingWelding Procedure Specification (WPS). The tensile test was conducted in accordance with JIS Z2001 standard. The strength of underwater welded joints decreased while the elongation increased as increasing immersionImmersion time. Hydrogen and oxygen ions in corrosive liquids penetrate metal grain boundaries, which can weaken the bonds between grains.