Underwater Stud Welding

Stud welding is a simple process which requires no skill of the operator. Experiments were conducted to determine whether underwater stud welding could be made. Most experiments were made with mild-steel studs 3/4 inch in diameter. Base plates used were mild steel and HY-80 steel, 1/2 and 1 inch (6.4 and 25.4 mm) thick. It was found that stud welding could be made successfully under water. In the mechanical and metallurgical examinations, including tensile tests, bend tests, examinations of macro-structures, and micro-hardness tests, underwater welded specimens exhibited properties comparable to those of welds made in air. An effort is being made to develop an integrated stud welding unit which can be used for various applications in underwater fabrication and repair.