Grey Based Taguchi Technique for Optimization of MIG Welding Process Parameters of AISI 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel

The purpose of this study was to investigate the multi-response optimization of three welding parameters (wire feed speed, arc voltage, and shielding gas flow rate) for AISI 304H by using the Grey relational analysis and Taguchi technique. In this research work pure Argon was used as shielding gas. Experiments were conducted according to L-16 (4(xx)3) orthogonal array Design (sixteen experimental runs) and the mechanical properties such UTS, Vickers hardness (HV), Impact strength, optimized by Grey-based Taguchi method and Microstructure of AISI 304 H was studied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine significant parameters. By analyzing the Grey relational grade matrix, the degree of influence for each controllable process factor on individual quality targets can be found. After conducting experiments and collecting the data S/N ratio were calculated and result shows that the optimal parameters combination was determined as A3B4C2 i.e. was welding speed at 350 IPM, voltage at 24 V, and gas flow rate at 10 l/min, and an optimal parameter combination of the welding operation was obtained via Grey relational analysis.