Arc stud welding of galvanized steel

Abstract

Steel is a strong material that is commonly used in construction of roads, railways, infrastructure and buildings, and variety of other construction-related applications such as bolts, nails and screws. However, long exposure of steel to the atmosphere results in the formation of rust which will is detrimental to the strength and durability of the material and structure. Coating of steel with a thin layer of zinc has become a popular protective method. It is an inexpensive method of corrosion protection, provides good adhesion and good abrasion resistance.

However, many times these galvanized steel are subjected to welding during construction as a joining method. Welding is a promising way of assembly, where metals are melted at high temperature and allowed to fuse. Nevertheless, welding can generate defects especially in the case of zinc coated surface due to the vaporization of the zinc element. Furthermore, the nature of arc stud welding may also influence the effect of welding on zinc. In this report, the effect of arc stud welding on galvanized steel is studied through analyzing the failure surface.