Modeling and Control of Consumable Double-Electrode Gas Metal Arc Welding Process

This paper addresses the modeling and control of an innovative welding process namely the consumable double-electrode gas metal arc welding. Because the model of a welding process typically depends on manufacturing conditions, it is proposed that the process be modeled as an interval model whose parameters are bounded by intervals. Experiments have been conducted with selected manufacturing conditions to identify a few models. These models are then used to derive an interval model to describe the process. To increase the stability margin, the intervals identified are artificially enlarged. A prediction based interval model control algorithm is used to control the resultant interval model. Closed-loop control experiments have been performed to verify the effectiveness of the developed control system for this novel welding process.