Multi-response optimization of TIG dissimilar welding of AISI 1008 mild steel and AISI 316 stainless steel using grey-based Taguchi method

This article presents a reliable method of multi-performance characteristics optimization of TIG dissimilar welding of mild steel and stainless steel. Grey-integrated Taguchi optimization approach was adopted for the optimization of the welding process parameters such as the welding current, the welding voltage and the gas flow rate for multi-performance characteristics such as the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, percentage elongation and Vickers microhardness of the fusion zone. L-9 Taguchi orthogonal array was employed with three process parameters all at three levels. The welding current was the most significant process parameter for the multi-performance characteristics of the weld joint. The optimal setting for the multi-performance characteristics of the weld joint was obtained as welding current at level 1 (110 A), welding voltage at level 1 (11 V) and gas flow rate at level 3 (18 l min(-1)). The corresponding response variables at the optimal setting were ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, percentage elongation and Vickers microhardness of 493.29 MPa, 395.38 MPa, 31.35% and 390.52 HV respectively. These values are all found to be higher than the values obtained at the initial settings. This shows that grey-integrated Taguchi optimization is an effective method in multi-performance characteristics optimization of dissimilar welded material.