Hybrid fiber laser – Arc welding of thick section high strength low alloy steel

Hybrid laser – metal active gas (MAG) arc welding is an emerging joining technology that is very promising for shipbuilding applications. This technique combines the synergistic qualities of the laser and MAG arc welding techniques, which permits a high energy density process with fit-up gap tolerance. As the heat input of hybrid laser – arc welding (HLAW) is greater than in laser welding, but much smaller than in MAG arc welding, a relatively narrow weld and restricted heat affected zone (HAZ) is obtained, which can minimize the residual stress and distortion. Furthermore, adding MAG arc can increase the penetration depth for a given laser power, which can translate to faster welding speeds or fewer number of passes necessary for one-sided welding of thick plates. In this work, a new hybrid fiber laser – arc welding system was successfully applied to fully penetrate 9.3 mm thick butt joints using a single-pass process through optimization of the groove shape, size and processing parameters.

Research highlights
► Hybrid fiber laser – arc welding process is investigated for 9.3 mm HSLA-65 steel.
► One-pass hybrid process was successfully developed at low laser power of 5 kW.
► Three welding processes, i.e. arc, fiber laser and hybrid, were compared.
► The hybrid welding technique developed is promising for shipbuilding industry.