Influence of Inclusions on Mechanical Properties in Flash Butt Welding Joint of High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel

Flash butt welding is a high-efficiency welding technology that is widely used in industrial development. However, the inclusions and defects generated during the process are unacceptable. The presence of inclusions is one of the main factors affecting the quality of flash butt welding. Suitable flash butt welding parameters such as the preheating temperature and upset distance are essential to eliminate inclusions. In this study, because the number of inclusions on the end face is greatly affected by the flash welding time and upset distance, the impact of different upset distances on the number of inclusions was studied by fixing the flash welding time. Further observations were conducted using a scanning electron microscope. Image analysis software was used on the obtained photos to quantitatively analyze the inclusions on the welding surface. A statistical analysis of the experimental data showed that the upset distance was related to the number of inclusions, and the total number of inclusions on the welding surface had a negative impact on the strength of the product.