Development of a Fuzzy Model in Plasma Transferred Arc Welding using Cobalt based Hard Facing Alloy

Abstract

Plasma Transferred Arc Welding (PTAW) has attracted increasing attention for its effective protection against corrosion, thermal shock, and abrasion. The quality of hard faced components depends on the weld bead geometry and dilution, which must be properly controlled and optimized to ensure better desirable mechanical characteristics of the weld. Good weld is achieved by selecting the right input parameters in this process and hence study of these input variables such as welding current, speed, etc. gives us a good analysis of how to achieve desirable weld bead characteristics using the known input variables. The shape of weld bead geometry obtained in the PTA welding process is an indication of the quality and health of a good weld. In this study, different weld beads would be deposited using PTA process with different parameters (welding current, travel speed and powder feed rate) using cobalt based powdered filler metal. A Fuzzy Interface System (FIS) is adopted to compare the out parameters for achieving desired Hardness, Width, Height and the Percentage of Fe content after welding.