The reliability of welded joints is a vital factor in modern manufacturing,
directly affecting product performance and durability. This study investigates
methods to enhance the mechanical and metallurgical quality of butt joints in
AISI 304L stainless steel welded by the gas tungsten arc (GTA) process. A
systematic experimental design was implemented using the Taguchi method with an
L9 orthogonal array, considering welding current, gas flow rate, and travel
speed as the main parameters. To determine overall weld performance, the joints
were characterized by measuring ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength,
percentage elongation, and examining their microstructural morphology. An
experimental strategy based on the Taguchi approach has been implemented. The
welding performance of the material was investigated, and the process parameters
were optimized using multiresponse optimization through principal component
analysis (PCA), incorporating an orthogonal array design, signal-to-noise (S/N)
ratio, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). C1G1S3—the predicted optimal parameter
combination—is the ideal factor configuration as determined by PCA (welding
current = 100 A, gas flow rate = 10 L/min, travel speed = 2 mm/sec). Results
demonstrate that precise control of process parameters significantly enhances
weld quality. The methodology also provides a systematic framework that
engineers and practitioners can apply to produce reliable stainless steel welds
with improved accuracy and predictability.
