Optimizating Pitting Corrosion in 3.5 N NaCl Medium of Pulsed Current Micro Plasma Arc Welded AISI 304L Sheets Using Genetic Algorithm

Abstract

Austenitic stainless steel sheets have gathered wide acceptance in the fabrication of components, which require high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance, such as metal bellows used in expansion joints in aircraft, aerospace and petroleum industry. In case of single pass welding of thinner sections of this alloy, pulsed current micro plasma arc welding (PCMPAW) was found beneficial due to its advantages over the conventional continuous current process. This paper highlights the development of empirical mathematical equations using multiple regression analysis, correlating various process parameters to pitting corrosion rates in PCMPAW of AISI 304L sheets in 3.5 normal NaCl. The experiments were conducted based on a five factor, five level central composite rotatable design matrix. A genetic algorithm (GA) was developed to optimize the process parameters for minimizing the pitting corrosion rates.