Mechanical Characteristics and Metallurgical Properties of GTAW-SMAW Hybrid Welding on TMCP Steel Grade EH36 Butt Weld Parts

Sumeth Nuchim; Phacha Bunyawanichakul; Tri Kharanan; Teerapath Limboonruang; Nittalin Phunapai; Natchanun Angsuseranee; Visanu Boonmag; Sasikan Suwanprateep; Sukit Litikorn

doi:10.48084/etasr.16287

Authors

Sumeth Nuchim Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakhonnayok, Thailand
Phacha Bunyawanichakul Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakhonnayok, Thailand
Tri Kharanan Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakhonnayok, Thailand
Teerapath Limboonruang Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakhonnayok, Thailand
Nittalin Phunapai Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakhonnayok, Thailand
Natchanun Angsuseranee Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (Huntra), Thailand
Visanu Boonmag Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thonburi University, Bangkok, Thailand
Sasikan Suwanprateep Department of Industrial Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, Thailand
Sukit Litikorn Engineering Support Division at Harn Engineering Solutions Public Company Limited, Thailand

Volume: 16 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 33466-33478 | April 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.16287

Received: 15 November 2025 | Revised: 4 January 2026 and 23 January 2026 | Accepted: 2 February 2026 | Online: 4 April 2026

Corresponding author: Natchanun Angsuseranee

Abstract

The successful application of the Thermo-Mechanical Control Process (TMCP) in combination with the latest innovative technologies has stimulated the development of EH36 steel plates. This type of steel is often welded by Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), but there is no hybrid welding of steel sheets. The main objective of this study is to investigate the mechanical characteristics and metallurgical properties of TMCP grade EH36 steel plates of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and SMAW hybrid welding processes. The steel plate used in the study measured 650 × 170 mm and had a thickness of 12 mm. Mechanical characteristics and metallurgical tests revealed deep penetration and melting between filler metal and base metal, indicating perfection between the weld metal and base metal. The hybrid GTAW and SMAW welding process produced an average maximum tensile strength of 524.35 MPa. The maximum hardness in the weld metal zone was 231 HV, and the lowest hardness in the base metal was 168 HV. The impact test results showed that the energy absorbed in the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) was 256.57 J, which was higher than the energy absorbed in the weld metal zone (184.34 J), indicating that the HAZ had better toughness than the weld metal zone. The microstructure of the weld metal mainly comprised acicular ferrite phase, which resulted in the weld metal being harder than the base metal.

Keywords:

GTAW-SMAW hybrid welding, EH36 steel plates, mechanical characteristics, metallurgical

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

K. K. Um, S. H. Kim, K. B. Kang, Y. H. Park, and O. Kwon, "High Performance Steel Plates for Shipbuilding Applications," in Eighteenth International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Vancouver, Canada, Jul. 2018, Art. no. ISOPE-I-08-317.

F. Caiazzo et al., "Laser Beam Welding of a Ti–6Al–4V Support Flange for Buy-to-Fly Reduction," Metals, vol. 7, no. 5, May 2017, Art. no. 183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/met7050183

V. M. J. Varghese, M. R. Suresh, and D. S. Kumar, "Recent Developments in Modeling of Heat Transfer During TIG Welding—a Review," The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, vol. 64, no. 5–8, pp. 749–754, Feb. 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-4048-9

I. P. Wardani, V. A. Setyowati, S. Suheni, and I. P. Samudra, "The Effect of Welding Current on AISI 1045 Strength and Corrosion Rate," Journal of Applied Sciences, Management and Engineering Technology, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 40–45, Nov. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31284/j.jasmet.2020.v1i2.1159

A. Jayant and M. Singh, "Use of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to Select Welding Process in High Pressure Vessel Manufacturing Environment," International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, vol. 10, no. 8, pp. 5869–5884, 2015.

P. P. Thakur and A. N. Chapgaon, "Effect of GTAW-SMAW Hybrid Welding Process Parameters on Hardness of Weld," International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 782–786, 2017.

J. C. F. Jorge et al., "Influence of Welding Procedure and PWHT on HSLA Steel Weld Metals," Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 561–571, Jan. 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2018.05.007

C. Li, G. Qin, Y. Tang, B. Zhang, S. Lin, and P. Geng, "Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel Clad Plate Joint with Diverse Filler Metals," Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 2522–2534, Mar. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2019.12.083

I. R. Ibrahim, M. Khedr, T. S. Mahmoud, H. A. Abdel-Aleem, and A. Hamada, "Study on the Mechanical Performance of Dissimilar Butt Joints between Low Ni Medium-Mn and Ni-Cr Austenitic Stainless Steels Processed by Gas Tungsten Arc Welding," Metals, vol. 11, no. 9, Sept. 2021, Art. no. 1439. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/met11091439

D. Wang, P. Zhang, X. Peng, L. Yan, and G. Li, "Comparison of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Strength and Toughness Ship Plate Steel," Materials, vol. 14, no. 19, Oct. 2021, Art. no. 5886. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14195886

E. Korkmaz and C. Meran, "Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Characterization of GTAW of Micro-Alloyed Hot Rolled Ferritic XPF800 Steel," Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 503–513, Apr. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2020.04.006

S. Gook, A. Midik, M. Biegler, A. Gumenyuk, and M. Rethmeier, "Joining 30 mm Thick Shipbuilding Steel Plates EH36 Using a Process Combination of Hybrid Laser Arc Welding and Submerged Arc Welding," Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, vol. 6, no. 4, Aug. 2022, Art. no. 84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp6040084

S. Sirohi et al., "Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Combined GTAW and SMAW Dissimilar Welded Joints between Inconel 718 and 304L Austenitic Stainless Steel," Metals, vol. 13, no. 1, Dec. 2022, Art. no. 14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/met13010014

S. Zhang, H. Wang, Y. Wang, and L. Cao, "Study on the Novel High Manganese Austenitic Steel Welded Joints by Arc Welding for Cryogenic Applications of LNG Tanks," Materials, vol. 16, no. 6, Mar. 2023, Art. no. 2381. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16062381

D. G. Zisopol, M. Minescu, and D. V. Iacob, "A Study on the Influence of Aging of the Butt-Welded PE100 SDR11 on Shore A Hardness and Tensile Strength," Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 12722–12727, Feb. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.6635

S. Nuchim, P. Bunyawanichakul, N. Angsuseranee, and V. Boonmag, "Residual Stress and Distortion Analysis for TMCP Steel Grade EH36 Butt Welding Parts in GTAW-SMAW Hybrid Welding Process Using Finite Element Method," Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 20077–20084, Feb. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.8506

Norco Inc, WELD 70S-6 AWS A5.18: ER70S-6. Boise, ID, USA: Norco Inc, 2025.

"Arc Welding Service," Arc Welding Service Co.,Ltd., 2025. https://www.arcweldingservice.com/product/product_level/1/95/.

T. M. Donizete Borba, W. Duarte Flores, L. De Oliveira Turani, and R. Cardoso Junior, "Assessment of the Weldability of EH36 TMCP Shipbuilding Steel Welded by High Heat Input Submerged Arc Welding," Welding International, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 184–195, Mar. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09507116.2016.1218619

"Metal Grades EH36 Grade Shipbuilding Steel.," Metals USA, 2025. https://www.metalsusa.com/eh36-grade-steel/.

M. Staszuk and M. Nabialek, "Simularea Computerizata a Testului De Tractiune Statica Folosind Metoda Elementelor Finite," Materiale Plastice, vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 225–228, Jun. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37358/MP.17.2.4821

H. Zhang, C. Li, and Z. Zhu, "Influence of CDFW Process Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of U75V Rail Steel Welded Joint," Metals, vol. 12, no. 5, Apr. 2022, Art. no. 711. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/met12050711