Modeling and analysis by response surface methodology of hardness for submerged arc welded joints using developed agglomerated fluxes

Abstract

The present study evaluates the hardness of submerged arc welded joints by using developed agglomerated fluxes during submerged arc welding. Response surface methodology (RSM) technique is used to conduct the experiments. Flux constituents MnO, CaF₂, NiO, MgO and Fe-Cr are chosen as variables added into the main constituents CaO, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ to study the performance in terms of hardness. The results identify the most important constituents favoring the hardness are MnO, MgO, NiO and Fe-Cr, where as CaF₂ is not so prominent to improve the hardness.