Challenges and Possibilities in the Welding of Advanced High-Strength Steels

In numerous industrial fields, there is a demand for the application of high strength steels (HSS). Steel producers have an increased attention to develop new generation of HSS with good weldability properties. The users of HSS in welded structures generally face with the problem of cold cracking, significant deterioration of mechanical properties in the heat-affected zone and the arising questions related to the mismatch ratio between the base and the filler material. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is the commonly used technology for HSS, although welding equipment with the function of advanced pulsed process variants is recommended to achieve minimized heat input and acceptable penetration at the same time. Beam welding processes can offer new opportunities with the combination of preheating, welding and post-weld heat treatment by the same heat source. Present paper provides a brief overview about weldability challenges and the advanced technological solutions regarding HSS. A strong relation can be identified between the steel processing route, weldability and the recommended welding technology.