A strip electrode in SAW provides which type of weld bead?

A strip electrode in SAW provides which type of weld bead?

• A. A very wide, shallow bead.
• B. A narrow, deep bead.
• C. An excellent finish with no slag.
• D. A bead with minimal distortion.

Answer: (A)

Using a strip electrode in submerged arc welding spreads heat and filler metal across a wider area. The arc travels along the strip and the molten metal fills a broad zone, so the resulting weld bead is very wide but relatively shallow. This wide deposition is a characteristic feature of strip electrodes in SAW—the heat is distributed over a broad region, giving a wide, shallow bead rather than a narrow, deep one. The flux used in SAW forms a slag layer over the weld, so you don’t get a finish with no slag. And while SAW can be controlled to manage distortion, the high heat input can still cause some distortion if not properly managed, so minimal distortion isn’t a defining trait of this setup.

Using a strip electrode in submerged arc welding spreads heat and filler metal across a wider area. The arc travels along the strip and the molten metal fills a broad zone, so the resulting weld bead is very wide but relatively shallow. This wide deposition is a characteristic feature of strip electrodes in SAW—the heat is distributed over a broad region, giving a wide, shallow bead rather than a narrow, deep one. The flux used in SAW forms a slag layer over the weld, so you don’t get a finish with no slag. And while SAW can be controlled to manage distortion, the high heat input can still cause some distortion if not properly managed, so minimal distortion isn’t a defining trait of this setup.