Investigation on Welding Arc Sound (Report 1)

Effect of Welding Method and Welding Condition on Welding Arc Sound

Abstract

The sound signal of arc welding seems to provide a useful information for the elucidate of welding arc phenomena, the observation of behavior and the control of arc welding. Afterwards we call this sound the welding arc sound through the investigation.
In this paper we describe an experimental study about the characteristics of welding arc sound with the various methods of welding and welding conditions.
The results obtained are summerized as follows;
1) The welding arc sound has a good competence for the useful source of the information with high level of SPL and good S/N.
2) The welding arc sound emits an unique frequency spectrum according to the welding methods and the spectrum has a very wide-band frequency in CO₂ arc welding, MIG arc welding and CO₂+Ar arc welding. Otherwise the spectrum of TIG arc welding has a simple frequency state that means nearly "pure sound."
3) The instantaneous sound pressure synchronized with the extinction and the reignition of arc is very strong and the sound wave has a characteristic of the shock wave's propagation.
4) The welding arc sound is closely related to the supplied electric power, welding speed, gas flow rate and electrode extension.
5) The welding arc sound provides the informations about the contraction and expansion of arc, the phenomenon of the molten pool and the transfer of droplets.