Optimization of wire-fed electron beam repair deposition on Inconel-718: Taguchi analysis of heat-affected zone hardness and width


SOFUOĞLU M. A., KILIÇ A. İ.

Sadhana - Academy Proceedings in Engineering Sciences, cilt.50, sa.3, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 50 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s12046-025-02877-w
  • Dergi Adı: Sadhana - Academy Proceedings in Engineering Sciences
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, zbMATH, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Electron beam welding, hardness, heat-affected zone, Inconel-718
  • Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Inconel-718 components often require in-situ restoration of local cavities or cracks. The present study explores wire-fed electron-beam welding (EBW) as a low-heat-input repair technique and employs a Taguchi L9 orthogonal array to optimise voltage (28–32 kV), current (18–22 mA), welding speed (9–11 mm s−1) and wire-feed rate (25–35 mm s−1). Nine coupons (25.4 mm × 25.4 mm × 3.556 mm) with 9.271 mm blind holes were filled under high vacuum. Rockwell-B hardness and heat-affected zone (HAZ) width were the performance metrics. The optimum condition (30 kV/18 mA/10 mm s−1/25 mm s−1) yielded a peak HAZ hardness of 95 HRB, whereas the combination of 28 kV/20 mA/11 mm s−1/30 mm s−1 limited HAZ width to 0.30 mm. Wire-feed rate dominated hardness, while voltage controlled HAZ width. Although extensive research has been conducted on EBW, the use of wire-assisted EBW as a repair-filling method for Inconel-718 has been rarely explored. This study addresses this gap by (i) combining a precision wire feeder with an EB gun for cavity restoration and (ii) evaluating both the hardness and width of HAZ using a Taguchi optimization approach.