Progressive technologies of electrophysical treatment for regulation of stress-strain states of elements of welded structures

The development of industry stimulates the development of modern approaches to the optimization of welded structures. The use of pulsed electromagnetic fields, plasma currents, electrodynamic forces and their combined effects is a new trend in engineering practice to improve the mechanical characteristics of metal materials and welded joints (WJ). Treatment with a pulsed electromagnetic field (TwPEMF) is a promising direction for optimizing the stress-strain states (SSS) of welded structures made of non-ferromagnetic metal materials. Using the method of electronic speckle interferometry, the effect of TwPEMF on the SSS of specimens of circumferential WJ with a thickness of δ = 1.0 mm from aluminium AMg6 alloy was investigated. Based on the original procedure using an accelerometer, the kinetics of the action of the force P of the magnetic field pressure on the residual displacements f and SSS of the specimens during their TwPEMF were investigated. TwPEMF of WJ specimens was performed without and with the use of an additional shield made of AMg6 alloy δ = 5.0 mm. It was found that the use of a shield increases the amplitude values of force P by up to two times, which is caused by an increase in the active volume of the conductive medium. At the same time, TwPEMF without and with the use of a shield contributes to the reduction of f values by 2 and 4 times, respectively, and residual SSS by 50 and 80%. On the basis of mathematical modelling, the advantages of using electrodynamic treatment (EDT) of butt WJ δ = 3.0 mm of АMg61 (1561) alloy in the TIG welding process compared to EDT at room temperature (Tk) are substantiated. According to the results of the model verification, it was proved that EDT during TIG contributes to the formation of peak values of residual compressive stresses in the weld zone by 60% more than EDT during Tk. The use of a pulsed barrier discharge (PBD), which generates a low-temperature plasma on the surface of the metal being treated, contributes to the optimization of its structure. An increase in the hardness HV of structural 25KhGNMT steel as a result of its PBD treatment from 420 to 510 units was established, which is accompanied by the dispersion of the metal microstructure.