Underwater Operations

With aluminum-hulled ships entering U.S. Navy service, the race is on to develop a process for underwater repairs at sea as an alternative to costly and time-consuming dry-docking. Phoenix International, the Navy’s Diving Services contractor, is performing AL-welding tests in a hyperbaric chamber at Bayou Vista, La., on behalf of the Navy. The project has a huge assist from equipment and consumables supplied by the Lincoln Electric Co. and backed by Lincoln Electric technical support.

The first-of-its-kind GMAW procedure has passed mechanical testing and now awaits further lab results prior to earning official Navy approval. Ultimately, the Phoenix International procedures must pass three hyperbaric aluminum-weld tests: 5083 alloy welded to itself; 5083 alloy welded to a 6000-Series alloy; and a 6000-Series alloy welded to another 6000-Series. The process and procedures have been carefully selected for easy repeatability anywhere in the world.

Lincoln Electric has worked closely with Phoenix International throughout the project, supplying a Power Wave S350 welder and Power Feed 25M wire feeder, as well as Lincoln Electric SuperGlaze 5556 3/64-in. diameter wire. The Power Wave welder and Power Feed feeder are located above the surface of the water

on land, connected to a push-pull welding gun with 50-ft gun cable located 24 ft underwater in the hyperbaric chamber. For more information on the welding equipment used in this groundbreaking project, visit www.lincolnelectric.com.