Fusion welding thermal simulation in corrugated steel for one-way slabs

The objective of this work is to carry out a study on fusion welding by modifying different variables: pressures, intensity and time. This process will be used for the elaboration of rebar in reinforced concrete structures such as unidirectional slabs. Currently, the corrugated steel bars used in the construction sector are usually welded using MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding. This welding emits gases that are harmful to the environment and to welders. For this reason, an attempt is made to find a better alternative for rebar welding. After studying the current welding methods, it was decided to test the effectiveness of electric resistance welding because it is a cleaner weld, the main reason being that it does not use material or filler gases. The methodology followed to verify the effectiveness of the new alternative consists of the elaboration of several test pieces combining corrugated steel bars of different diameters joined through spot welding, carried out by electric resistance welding. The welding process is recorded with a thermographic camera, to obtain the maximum temperature during said process, of all the combinations studied. To determine if welding with the new alternative is thermally feasible. The results allow to determine that the welding is feasible with the new alternative. All the experiments are validated by a finite-elements simulation, and, once the model is validated, more range of values are obtained using simulation without price increase.