Abstract
The welded zone of a chain link manufactured by flash welding is generally softened due to the reduction of the amount of alloying elements during welding. The simulation test using the specimens which have soft interlayer materials was done to clarify the effect of softening on the mechanical properties of the welded zone. The results are as follows:
1) Though the simulated specimen fractures at the soft layer on tensile tests, the tensile strength is higher than that of the soft materials. With decreasing the thickness of the soft layer the tensile strength in creases, but the elongation and the reduction of area considerably reduce.
2) The impact value of the simulated specimens reduces with decreasing the thickness and the hardness of the soft material.
3) The reasons for them are that the plastic deformation of the simulated specimens occurs within the soft layer and the specimens fracture before general yielding.
4) The toughness of the welded zone in a chain link is improved by either making the softened layer of the welded zone thicker or reducing the degree of softening.
