| Abstract Scope |
Half a century ago, Professor K. Masubuchi and his team at MIT identified a significant contrast between welding practices on- and offshore. Specifically, their research delineated that while conventional onshore welding with consumable electrodes typically favors deeper weld penetration using positive polarity electrode configuration, underwater wet welding utilizing stick electrodes in direct polarity exhibits higher fusion in the base metal and lower electrode melting rates compared to reverse polarity. This study investigated the effects of different stick electrode types under varying current intensities and both polarity configurations in shallow water and 30-meter depth conditions. Methodologies were implemented to analyze the electric arc's structure and voltage falls across its regions: anode, cathode, and plasma column. Among the primary findings, the research elucidated the impact of hydrostatic pressure on the electric arc's energy distribution, influencing weld bead geometry, melting rate, and metal transfer phenomena. The results of this study hold great importance for those involved in underwater welding, such as commercial divers and engineers. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to revive meaningful discussions on polarity selection with consumable electrodes while working in underwater conditions. This is particularly important because there is a lack of information on the implications of polarity configuration choice. |