Fabrication Techniques For Thin Gage Aluminum High-performance Ships

Author:  Lukens, W.E.
Source:  Report No. MAT-77-2
Doc ID:  1977003
Year of Publication:  1977
Abstract:  
A study, consisting of a literature review and an experimental investigation, was conducted at this Center to identify improved production-oriented fabrication processes and procedures applicable to high-performance ships, with emphasis placed on thin aluminum alloy plate structures. The criteria for evaluating the processes and procedures were fatigue life, distortion, and burn-through of the resultant structure. The processes evaluated included weld bonding electron beam welding, gas metal-arc-pulsed welding, plasma arc welding, postweld peening, and brake forming. These processes were compared to conventional gas metal-arc-spray welding with no postweld treatments. It was observed that the weld-bond process is effective with regard to all three criteria, electron beam welding and peening are effective with regard to fatigue life and distortion, plasma arc welding and brake forming are effective with regard to distortion, and gas metal-arc-pulsed welding is effective with regard to burn-through. Descriptors: Aluminum alloys; Weldments; Ship plates; Welding; Distortion; Burnthrough; Fatigue life; Butt welding; Bonding; Electron beam welding; Gas metal arc welding; Plasma arc welding; Shot peening; Brake forming; Fabrication; Ship hulls; Ships