New method of calculating the amount of heat input to the weld

A new method of calculating the amount of heat introduced into the welded joint is presented. Instead of the previously used measure of heat input per unit length, heat input per unit volume was proposed. The proposed method and general formula are based on the basic technological parameters of the welding process (i.e. energy generated by the electric arc and welding speed) and the cross-sectional area of the fusion zone in the welded joint. A simplified method of calculating heat input per unit volume is presented by using simple formulas to calculate the surface area of the fusion zone in cross-section of the weld for the most common shapes in classic welding methods. The proposed general formula allows for a more accurate way of calculating the heat input per unit of volume depending on the the energy generated by the electric arc (e.g. for pulse current) and the surface area of the reinforcement and fusion zone using other direct measurement methods.