Abstract Welding operations are one of the most important operations during pipeline construction and most are still carried out manually with SMAW. The challenges associated with the automation of orbital welding are related to several variables, including the weld pool behavior in vertical and overhead positions, monitoring of parameters and metal transfer, bevel preparation and orbital welding head control. In order to achieve a 360º orbital root pass with GTAW process, this study was focused on evaluating the influence of the arc voltage control (AVC) system for pulsed current process, the bevel geometry and filler wire insertion technique on the welding process and weld bead. Experiments were carried out using 16” ASTM A36 pipes with ½” wall thickness and an automated orbital welding head. The results show that the AVC control must be appropriate for the current mode applied (pulsed or constant) in order to avoid arc length oscillation. Also, the counterboring operation during the bevel preparation increases the amount of material of the groove land and promotes less penetration. Regarding the metal transfer, the continuous bridge transfer mode is recommended for automated orbital GTAW welding and this is achieved with an appropriate AVC control method and filler wire positioning.

Resumo A característica mais marcante da soldagem TIG Orbital é a constante alteração na posição de soldagem enquanto a tocha acompanha o perfil geométrico dos tubos. No contexto da soldagem TIG orbital de tubos de grande diâmetro e paredes espessas, é investigada a relação entre a posição de soldagem, uso de corrente constante ou pulsada e ainda valor da corrente média nas características geométricas dos cordões obtidos. Foram realizadas soldas de deposição em tubos de aço carbono SAE 1020, bem como macrografias das seções transversais dos cordões via microscopia óptica. Filmagens em alta definição contribuíram para a compreensão do comportamento da poça de fusão nas diferentes posições de soldagem. As características geométricas foram quantificadas através das macrografias com o uso de um software e foi traçada a relação destas com as variáveis citadas. Além disso, foi feita uma análise microestrutural das amostras, correlacionando com a microdureza Vickers. Concluiu-se que cordões soldados com corrente pulsada apresentam maiores reforço e largura, bem como maior dureza e microestrutura mais refinada. A posição vertical ascendente resulta em cordões com menor fator de forma e maior penetração, e a posição sobre cabeça resulta em cordões de baixo fator de forma.

Abstract The most important characteristic of TIG Orbital welding is the constant change in weld position while the torch follows the geometric profile of the pipes. In this context, large diameter and thick wall pipes orbital TIG welds were investigated, by studying the relation between the welding position, use of constant or pulsed current and magnitude of welding current and the resulting geometric characteristics. Weld beads were made on SAE 1020 carbon steel pipes, as well as transversal section macrographs via optical micrograph. High definition filming contributed to comprehension of the weld pool trend on different welding positions. Geometric characteristics were quantified through the macrographs by using software, and its relations with the cited variables were made. Besides that, a microstructural analysis was made, comparing it to Vickers micro hardness. One could conclude that beads made with pulsed current had higher reinforcement and width, as well as higher hardness and a finer microstructure. The ascendant vertical position resulted in low reinforcement form factor and higher penetration, and the overhead position results in low reinforcement form factor beads.