In welding experiments conducted on heavy wall pipes, the penetration mode (full or partial penetration) occurred to be a significant factor influencing appearance of solidification cracks. To explain the observed phenomena and support further optimization of manufacturing processes, a computational model was developed, which used a sophisticated strategy to model the material. High stresses emerged in the models in regions which showed cracking during experiments. In partial penetration welding, they were caused by the prevention of weld shrinkage due to the cold and strong material below the joint. Another identified factor having an influence on high stress localization is bulging of the weld.
Laser GMA hybrid welds, producing partial penetration, were conducted on stiff tubes made of S460NH. Experiments, using a design-of-experiments plan were conducted to examine the influence of the welding parameters on the occurrence of solidification cracks. Results say that cracks diminish, when high levels of arc power are applied, while their number increases with rising laser beam power. The weld velocity had no measurable impact.