Sensor controlled robotic welding for nuclear applications. Annual progress report

Significant accomplishments towards the development of an adaptive robotic welding system have been made during the first eight months of the project. The project is currently within budget and on schedule. Accomplishments were both scientific and programmatic in form. A list of the scientific accomplishments follows: demonstrated that the thermal profiles generated for intentionally induced defects during the welding process are similar in steel, aluminum and stainless steel. The conclusion is therefore that infrared sensing is applicable to the welding of over 90% of all materials used in the energy industry. Completed design and testing of a first generation communication system used to transfer information from the infrared camera to the computer in a near real time form. This demonstrates that information can be obtained, sorted, transferred and received in a time frame consistent with on-line process control. Demonstrated rudimentary seam tracking using infrared sensing and closed loop logic routines. A linear relationship exists between measured peak surface temperature and depth of penetration. Similarily, a linear relationship exists between measured infrared width and weld bead width. These relations suggest that penetration parameters may be controlled using surface measurements as obtained by infrared thermography.