Objectif
To join high-strength steels, various laser-welding processes are applied. However, these lasers show low flexibility, low efficiency and high costs, which often prohibits their application. To improve this situation, high-power fibre lasers have been recently developed.
However, only few experiences in welding exist. To prepare their application, welding equipment and processes will be developed and the process-property-performance relationship will be established for high-strength steels, taking the applications shipbuilding, pipe production and pipe laying. The results are expected to lead to an increased use of high strength steels and to improve cost saving and environmental protection by energy savings.