High power laser welding of thick construction steels

Experimental results are reported from an investigation to develop a laser welding technique for welding thick (greater than 5 mm) construction steels. The construction steels investigated were: three grades of high strength Domex steels (6-8 mm thickness), high strength Weldox 500 (6 mm thickness) and wear resistant Hardox 400 (10-15 mm thickness). The following tests were performed to evaluate the laser welded joints: visual inspection, radiographic examination, macrophotographs, hardness, bending and tensile tests, and impact toughness tests. Three types of joint were studied: autogenous butt joints, filler welded butt joints and corner joints. Design opportunities for this process are also discussed.Godkänd; 2000; 20070426 (cira)