GHTA Spot Welding Experiments of Aluminum and Titanium Plates under Simulated Space Environment

Abstract

The GHTA (Gas Hollow Tungsten Arc) welding experiments were conducted under the simulated space environment that is vacuum and microgravity. A vacuum chamber for GHTA welding experiment was placed in the cabin of aircraft. Aluminum and titanium plates were employed as work pieces. The experiments proved that the arc discharge phenomena, welding phenomena and the micro-structure of weld metal receive almost no effect by gravity. In addition, it is also demonstrated that the weld metal of the plate welded under the simulated space environment hangs down less than that of the plate welded on the ground.