Advances in Underwater Welding

A discussion of dry hyperbaric and wet welding will be made with comments on the economics of both types. The Underwater Welding Specification AWS D3.6 will be described as an aid to engineers and contractors to prescribe and assure sound underwater welding. Recent research and development work in underwater welding will be discussed and the effects of hardness, porosity, and fatigue on wet welds will be presented and some guidance offered to avoid problems. Wet welding applications on harbor structures and vessels will be described. Some ideas on emerging design for wet welding will be presented and new directions in underwater welding will be discussed.