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Study of Various
Methods and
Parameters Involved in
Underwater Welding
Subject Code-ME1637
Under the guidance of:
Dr. A K Das

Presented
By:
Abhishek
Jain
1201076

Department of Mechanical
Engineering
National Institute of Technology

Contents

Introduction

Classification

Wet Welding

Dry Welding

Advantages

Disadvantages

Schematic Diagram of Apparatus Required

Risks

Applications

Effect of Wet environment on welds

Porosity Curve

References

INTRODUCTION TO
UNDERWATER WELDING

How can big ships or underwater Rigs be

repaired ????
We cant lift ships and then repair them.

INTRODUCTION

Underwater welding is an important tool for

underwater fabrication works.

In 1946, special waterproof electrodes were

developed in Holland by Vander Willingen'.

In recent years the number of offshore structures

including oil drilling rigs, pipelines, platforms are
being installed significantly.

CLASSIFICATION

Under water welding can be classified as :

i.

Dry welding

ii.

Wet welding

DRY WELDING

A chamber is created near the area to be welded and

the welder does the job by staying inside the chamber.

It produces high quality weld joints .

The gas-tungsten arc welding process is used mostly

for pipe works

Gas metal arc welding is the best process for this

welding.

CLASSIFICATION OF
DRY WELDING
There are two basic types of dry
welding :
i.

Hyperbaric welding

ii.

Cavity welding

Hyper baric welding: It

is carried out in chamber

sealed around the structure
to be welded filled with a
gas to push water back.

Gas

generally used is a
breathable mixture of
helium and oxygen.

The

area under the floor of

the habitat is open to
water, so hyper baric
welding is termed as

HABITAT-WELDING

An image for Habitat Welding

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Hyper = High, Baric = Pressure

Hyper Baric welding means high Pressure Welding

Cavity welding:

Cavity welding is another approach to weld in

water free environment.

Conventional arrangements for feeding wire and

shielding gas

Introducing cavity gas and the whole is

surrounded by a trumpet shaped nozzle through
which high velocity conical jet of water passes.

It avoids the need for a habitat chamber and it

lends itself to automatic and remote control.

The process is very suitable for flat structures.

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Advantages:-

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Welder/diver is
safe.

Non destructive
testing of weld is
easy.

Good quality welds

are formed.

Surface monitoring
of welders condition
can be done.

Disadvantages:

The habitat welding requires large quantities of complex

equipment and much support equipment on the surface

Cost is extremely high hence cannot be afforded by

normal or small firms.

Large habitat for

underwater
hyperbaric welding

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WET WELDING

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Key technology for repairing marine structure

Welding is performed under water directly exposed

to the wet environment

Increased freedom movement makes more

effective, efficient and economical

Supply is connected to the welder/driver via cables

or hoses

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Complete insulation of the

cables and hoses are
essential in case to prevent
the chance for electric
shock

MMA (Manual Metal Arc)

welding is commonly used
process in the repair of
offshore platforms.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

The work-piece is connected to the positive side of

dc source (Anode) and electrode to the negative
side (Cathode).

The two parts of the circuit are brought together

and then slightly separated.

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An electric current
occurs in the gap and
causes a sustained
spark which melts the
bare metal forming a
weld pool.

The flux covering the

electrode melts to
provide a shielding
gas.

Arc burns in the cavity

formed inside the flux
covering, which is
designed to burn
slower than the metal
barrel to the electrode.

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Advantages

The versatility and low

cost.

Less costlier than dry

welding.

Speed with which it is

carried out.

No enclosures so no time
is lost for building.

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Disadvantages

Rapid quenching of the weld metal by the

surrounding water.

Welders working under water are restricted in

manipulating arc.

Hydrogen embrittlement causes cracks.

Poor visibility due to water contaminance.

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RISKS V/S PRECAUTIONS

Risk

of electric shock so precaution is taken for

checking the electrical insulation of electrical
welding equipments.

Hydrogen

and oxygen are produced by the arc

in wet welding which are potentially explosive so
precaution must be taken to avoid the build up
of pockets of gas

The

life or health of the welder will be in risk

from nitrogen introduction into the blood
stream, hence precautions include the provision
of an emergency air cylinder for the welder.

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APPLICATIONS

Offshore construction for tapping

sea resources.

Temporary repair work caused by

ships collisions, or unexpected
accidents.

Salvaging vessels sunk in the sea.

Construction of large ships beyond

the capacity of existing docks.

Maintenance of oil rigs.

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Figure showing schematic diagram for 2

underwater welding or cutting
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EFFECT OF WET ENVIRONMENT

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Water dissociates into Oxygen and Hydrogen which

dissolves in the molten pool causing:
Gas Inclusion Defects
Porosity
Water Inclusion as after some times hydrogen
combines with oxygen forming water vapor.

(a)

(b)

V-groove wet weld deposited at 100 m depth (a) and its radiographic
image (b)

Graph Between the Porosity and Water

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Pressure during welding
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CONCLUSION

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Most Underwater Structures are formed using this method as the

method is economical, flexible, versatile, Speedy.
Combined additions of titanium, boron, and manganese increased
the tensile strength of the steel wet welds due to microstructural
refinement and increased hardenability thus providing new
dimensions to underwater structures

REFERENCES

www.Wikipedia.org

Paper on Underwater Welding-Jyotsana Dutta

Majumdar (IIT KGP 2006)

Manual for underwater welding, US Navy

www.howstuffworks.com

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THANK YOU