PMSS Project Details

Project ID:	FHWA-PROJ-11-0002
Project Name:	Efficacy of Solid-State Welding for Bridge Fabrication
Status:	Active
Contact:	Last Name: Ocel First Name: Justin Telephone: 202-493-3080 E-mail: justin.ocel@dot.gov
Organization:	Federal Highway Administration - Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
Office:	Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Team:	Bridge and Foundation Engineering Team
Roadmap/Focus area(s):	Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap
Project Description:	This project will consider the efficacy of using the following welding processes: (1) High frequency.(2) Friction stir.(3) Thermal stir.(4) Hybrid high frequency/friction stir, between ferric steels commonly used in steel bridge fabrication. The project will specifically focus on solid-state welding of the three grades of high-performing steels. Depending on the results attained, the project may expand in scope.
Laboratories:	Not Applicable
Start Date:	January 1, 2011
End Date:	February 28, 2013
Funding Amount:	$345,770.00
FHWA Program Name:	High-Performing Steel Bridge
Goals:	Determine if solid-state welding practices are feasible for use with typical ferric materials used in steel bridge fabrication.
Project Type:	Offsite
Background Information:	Partial or full-penetration submerged arc welding (SAW) in T-joints have been the workhorse fusion weld used in steel bridge fabrication for decades. Additionally, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) are also used. Emerging high productivity technologies, such as hybrid laser/GMAW welding, were also introduced to improve weld quality, productivity, and weld properties, and to reduce residual stresses. However, all these are fusion welding processes, where consumables are melted and resolidified as a weld deposit. These processes inherently have a potential for creating weld discontinuities, such as solidification cracking or gas/slag entrapment. On the other hand, the solid-state welding processes are the direct fusion between two different base metals. Some solid-state welding processes have become standard in the oil/gas, aerospace, and automotive industries, although they typically have employed metals other than ferric steels.
Test Methodology:	Experimental
Other Information:	Data not yet available
Partners:	Data not yet available
More Information URL(s):
Fieldtest:	Data not yet available
Expected Benefits:	Higher productivity and reliable steel bridge fabrication.
Deliverables:	Name: Final research report. Product Type(s): Techbrief Description: The final research report will be written by the contracted agency to include a description of their experimental method and results showing the efficacy of solid-state welding of bridge steels. Audiences: Researchers, Bridge design professionals Secondary Audiences:
Related URL(s):
Project Findings:	Data not yet available
FHWA Topics:	Roads and Bridges--Design Roads and Bridges--Structures Research/Technologies--Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
TRT Terms:	Welding Steel Bridges Submerged Arc Welding Infrastructure Research Bridges Gas Metal Arc Welding Fabrication
FHWA Disciplines:	Structures
Subject Areas:	Bridges and other structures Construction Research