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Produced by the NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI)
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TEC'.-INOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN ENGINEERING

CAMBRIDGE. MASS. 02139

FINAL REPORT

SEP 83

RECEIVED

wrw STI FAVUV

"Wo DEPI- ,

Under Contract No. NASW-3740

(M.I.T. OSP #93589)

ON

FEASIBILITY OF

REMOTELY MANIPULATED WELDING

IN SPACE

-A STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF

NOVEL JOINING TECHNOLOGIESSubmitted to

Office of Space Science and Applications

Innovative Utilization of the Space Station Program

Code E

NASA Headquarters

Washington, D.C. 20546

September 1983

by

Koichi Masubuchi

John E. Agapakis

Andrew DeBiccari

Christopher von Alt

(NASA-CR-1754371 ZEASIbILITY CF RZ,1JTL": Y `84-20857

MANIPJLATED WELLINu iN SPAI.E. A STEP IN THE

Uc.Y1;LuPdENT OF NUVLL Ju1NING Tkk ;HNuLUGIES

Final Peport (c;dssachu6etts Irist. or Tccli.) U11CIds

ibJ p HC Al2/Mk AJ 1 CSCL 1jI G:i/.i7 OOb47
i

i

rACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance provided by M.I.T.

staff members including Professor David L. Akin of the Departmen t of

Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Professor Thomas B. Sheridan and

Dr. Dana Yoerger of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The

authors also wish to thank Ms. Muriel Morey, Mrs. Eileen MacIntosh, and

Ms. Linda Sayegh for providing necessary assistance including editing,

drawing, and typing.
ii

SUMMARY

This is the final report of a six-month research program entitled,

"Feasibility of Remotely Manipulated Welding in Space - A Step in the

Development of Novel Joining Technologies". The program was performed

at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the Office of Space

Science and Applications, NASA, as a part of the Innovative Utilization

of the Space Station Program.

i The objective of this research has been to initiate a research

program for the development of packaged, remotely controlled welding

systems for space construction and repair. The research effort

included the following tasks:

Task 1: Identification of probable joining tasks in space

Task 2: Identification of required levels of automation in

space welding tasks

Task 3: Development of novel space welding concepts

Task 4: Development of recommended future studies

Task 5: Preparation of the final report.

As the first step for identifying probable joining tasks in space,

a survey was made of existing publications on space welding and related

subjects. Section 2.1 presents a summary of this survey. A more

detailed account of the literature survey is presented in APPENDIX A,

which includes 121 annotated references.

Probable joining tasks in space may be,classified, depending upon

the complexities and scales of the tasks, into the following three

categories:

Category 1: Construction and repair of simple, small tools,

equipment, components, and structural members

• Category 2: Maintenance and repair of major members of space

stations

f

Category 3: New construction of large, complex space structures.
iii

Section 2.4 discusses probable joining tasks in space under these

categories. Regarding candidate materials to be investigated, aluminum

alloys, especially those in 2000 series have been selected as primary

materials. Since most space structures will be fabricated with light

structures, research should be directed toward fabrication of metal

structures in thin sheets. Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and capacitor

discharge stud welding have been selected as primary welding processes.

Under Task 2, the following subjects have been studied:

(1) Welding task analyses, including general task analysis, tool

manipulation, selection of the process type and parameters,

process control, and inspection and quality control.

(2) Operational modes for space welding fabrication, including

manual welding by an operator in the remote site, remotely

manipulated welding, and totally autonomous, unmanned welding

systems.

(3) Experimental study. A limited experimental study was made to

examine the positioning and path tracking manual control

tasks.

Under Task 3, discussions are presented on the following subjects:

(1) Development of space welding technologies which do not

require on-site presence of welding engineers and welders.

Discussions cover (a) development of completely remote

welding technolog y , (b) development of integrated and

automated welding systems which can be operated by persons

with no welding skill, and (c) development of technologies

of welding through telepresence.

(2) Development of new welding processes and procedures uniquely

suited for space applications. Discussions cover (a) space

electron beam welding technology, (b) space exothermic

brazing technology, and (c) solar welding systems.

r,

,} 
iv

Under Task 4, the following six research programs have been recommended:

Program U1: Development of space stud welding systems which can be

remotely manipulated.

Program 02: Development of "instamatic® " GTAW systems for space applications which can be operated by an astronaut with no welding training.

Program #3: Development of flexible space welding systems.

Program (14: Research on space welding using GMAW, EBW, and LBW

processes.

Program 115: Research on special joining techniques suited for space

applications.

Program 116: Development of integrated fabrication systems for certain

complex structures.

i

KEYWORDS: Welding in space, Remotely manipulated welding in space,

Space stud welding, Space "instamatic ® " welding systems.

r

e;,l L4 N
v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

I

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.1 Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.2 Objective and Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.3 Possible Non-Space Applications of Novel

Space Welding Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2. TASK 1: IDENTIFICATION OF PROBABLE JOINING TASKS IN SPACE 8

2.1 Survey of Past Studies on Space Welding and

Related Subjects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.2 Basic Considerations for Identifying Probable

Joining Tasks in Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

2.3 Applicabilities of Existing Welding Processes

to Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

2.4 Probable Joining Tasks in Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

2.5 Selection of Candidate Base Materials and

Potential Welding Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

3. TASK 2: IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED LEVEL OF

AUTOMATION IN SPACE WELDING TASKS . . . . . . . . . . 63

3.1 Welding Task Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

3.2 Operational Modes for Space Welding Fabrication . . . . . 73

3.3 Experimental Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

4. TASK 3: DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL SPACE WELDING CONCEPTS . . . . . 84

4.1 Development of Space Welding Technologies which do not

Require On-Site Presence of Welding Engineers and Welders. 84

4.2 Development of New Welding Processes and Procedures

Uniquely Suited for Space Applications . . . . . . . . . 88

5. TASK 4: RECOMMENDED FUTURE STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

5.1 Research Program 111: Development of Space Stud Welding

Systems which can be Remotely Manipulated . . . . . . . . 92

i 5.2 Research Program 112: Development of "Instamatic®

GTAW Systems for Space Applications which can be

Operated by an Astronaut with no Welding Training . . . . 100

5.3 Research Program 113: Development of Flexible

i. Space Welding Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

kb L3
vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

PAGE

5.4 Research Program 114: Research on Space Welding

Using GMAW, EBW. AND LBW Processes . . . . . . . . . . . 114

5.5 Research Program U5: Research on Special

Joining Techniques Suited for Space Applications . . . 117

5.6 Research Program U6: Development of Integrated

Fabrication Systems for Certain Complex

Space Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

6. REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

APPENDIX A

REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND PREVIOUS

SPACE WELDING EXPERIMENTS

APPENDIX B

PRESENT STATUS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF "INSTAMATIC

WELDING SYSTEMS

APPENDIX C

A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE FEASIBILIGY OF

USING STUD WELDING IN SPACE

APPENDIX D

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF REMOTELY

MANIPULATED SPACE WELDING
1

1. INTRODUCTION

A six-month research program entitled, "Feasibility of Remotely

Manipulated Welding in Space - A Step in the Development of Novel Joining

Technologies" was performed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

for the Office of Sp-ace Science and Applications, NASA, as a part of the

Innovative Utilization of the Space Station Program. This is the final

report of this research.

1.1 Statement of the Problem

In order to establish permanent human presence in space we must

develop technologies of constructing and repairing space stations and

other space structures. In early stages of the Space Station Program,

most construction jobs will be performed on earth and the fabricated

modules will then be delivered to space by the Space Shuttle. Only

limited final assembly jobs, which may be primarily mechanical fastening,

will be performed on site in space. Such fabrication plans, however,

limit the designs of these structures, because each module-must fit inside

the transport vehicle and it must withstand launching stresses which

could be considerably high. It is evident that large-scale utilization

of space will necessitate more extensive construction work on site.

Furthermore, continuous operations of space stations and other structures

will require maintenance and repairs of structural components as well

as of tools and equipment on these space structures. It is therefore

very important to develop metal joining technologies, and especially

high-quality welding, in space.

It should be mentioned that close relationships exist between

welding technologies and structural designs. Many space structures

designed so far appear to be based on an assumption that welding

fabrication in space is not possible. Much more versatile structural

designs can be achieved once the space welding technology is well

developed.
2

0

s

Today well over 100 joining processes are used for a variety of

applications on earth. These joining processes may be classified into:

9

(a) Mechanical joining methods, including bolts and nuts

joining, riveting, etc.

(b) Adhesive bonding methods, and,

(c) Welding or metallurgical joining methods.

According to the Welding Handbook', welding processes are defined as

those joining processes which produce local coalescence of metals and

nonmetals either by heating the materials to suitable temperatures,

with or without the application of pressure, or by the application of

pressure alone, and with or without the use of filler metals. Today

there are about 100 welding and allied processes which are commercially

available, as discussed in a later part of this report (Section 2.2).

Many of these welding processes are widely used for fabricating a wide

variety of structures including aerospace structures, ships, bridges,

nuclear reactor vessels, and pipelines. This is because welding

processes have advantages over other joining methods in a number of

ways, including (1) excellent mechanical properties of joints, (2) simple

joint designs, and (3) ease of obtaining air and water tightness.

Therefore, welding processes will undoubtedly be important in space

construction and repair.

Welding is a relatively complicated joining process which requires

certain scientific knowledge and human skills. Proper processes,

equipment, and consumables, as well as joint design and welding

conditions (welding current, arc voltage, torch travel speed, etc.) must

be used to successfully weld certain materials in given thicknesses.

Welding operations, including manipulation of the welding torch,

must be performed in a proper manner in order to produce a weld free

from defects such as cracks, lack of fusion, porosity, and slag

inclusion. In fact, considerable efforts by welding engineers engaged

in welding in conventional air have been to minimize the adverse
3

effects caused by oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

Welding in space certainly creates great challenges and opportunities

for welding engineers. The lack of an atmosphere in space will be helpful in obtaining uncontaminated welds and also will readily permit

the use of high power-density welding processes such as electron beam

welding. However, a number of problems will be posed by the particular

nature of the space environment and the great distance from the earth.

For example, we must study how to obtain the large amount of electric power

that is needed for most conventional welding processes. We must also

study how gravity, or the lack of it, will affect joining mechanisms

and joint properties when different joining processes are used in space.

The extreme temperatures encountered in space can drastically affect

heat flow and metallurgy of the weldment. In order to successfully

perform welding construction and repair in space, we must first study

these problems and then develop welding technologies suitable for space

applications. We must also develop means for selecting proper welding

equipments, consumables, and welding conditions for given materials,

plate thicknesses, and environmental conditions. How can we do this

without sending welding engineers to a space station?

What is equally, if not more, important is the fact that welding

is a process that normally requires high levels of manual skill and

dexterity. These skills are not likely to be readily available in

space, since it is not realistic to assume that we must send welders

to a space station. Furthermore, under conditions encountered in space,

for example wearing a bulky space suit, even simple manual tasks

become extremely difficult to perform properly. Therefore, extensive

automation and packaging of welding processes will be required for

viable space welding techniques. Robots will be used extensively, and

some welding operations may even be remotely performed through supervisory systems located on earth.

I
4

During the last 15 years or so, some research efforts have been

made, mainly in U.S.A. and U.S.S.R., to investigate various aspects of

space welding. In fact, some welding experiments were performed

during the Soyuz-6 mission (U.S.S.R. in 1969) and aboard Skylab (U.S.A.

in 1973). A review and analysis of past studies on space welding and

related subjects is presented in a later part of this report. Most

of the past studies on space welding were basic studies to investigate

the effects of extremely low gravity on mechanisms of metal solidification and the properties of welds. Very little research, if any,

has been done with the objective to develop actual technologies

for welding construction and repair of space structures. In order to

develop welding technologies in space, we must find answers to many

questions, some of which are listed below:

(1) Which processes should be used for what purposes?

(2) Should we use human welders or should we use automatic

machines; what kind of machines can be used for which

jobs?

(3) Can we develop automated and integrated welding systems

which can perform certain welding jobs? If so, should

they be activated by astronauts or should they be remotely

manipulated from a station on earth (teleoperation)?

(4) How can we select adequate welding processes and conditions

without sending welding engineers to a space station

(telepresence of experts , expert autonomous systems)?

The major objective of this research is to develop answers, or to

propose ways to develop answers to these questions.

1.2 Objective and Tasks

This project has initiated a research program for the development

of packaged, remotely controlled welding systems for space construction

and repair. The research effort included the following tasks:

i
5

Task 1: Identification of probable joining tasks in space

Task 2: Identification of required levels of automation in

space welding tasks

Task 3: Development of novel space welding concepts

Task 4: Development of recommended future studies

Task 5: Preparation of the final report.

1.3 Possible Non-Space Applications of Novel Space Welding Concepts

Although the major objective of this research for NASA has been to

develop novel concepts for welding in space, there are several possible

uses of the novel concepts, for non-space applications. Presented

here is a brief discussion on several examples of the non-space applications.

(1) Remote Welding for Non-Space Applications. There are a number

of cases in which welding must be performed in locations where skilled

human welders are not easily available. They include such cases as

(a) welding in deep-sea for salvaging and repair of under-sea structures,

(b) welding construction and repair of structures in the arctic and

antarctic regions, and (c) welding repair of nuclear reactor components

inradioactive environments. The remote technology developed

for space applications can be used, perhaps with some modifications,

for a variety of non-space welding jobs which are currently very

difficult or impossible to perform.

(2) Welding Jobs which ar_e physically Difficult to Perform by

Human Welders. In a number of cases, such as pipings in a submarine

or a boiler, structures are designed in such a way that human welders

can perform welding for construction and repair. However, some of the

welding jobs are very difficult to perform due to the physical size of

a human. Small, light-weight, integrated automatic welding systems
6

developed for space applications may be useful for various welding jobs

which must be performed in a small, confined space.

(3) Possible Development of Novel Welding Concepts and Systems.

Although numerous efforts have been made and are still being made to

introduce mechanization and automation in welding fabrication, the

basic process tends to remain virtually unchanged, Many automatic

welding machines developed thus far tend to merely replace human welders

by machines. Similar observations can also be made for most of the

current industrial applications of robotic welding. Robots replace

human activities, but the processes are not usually adapted to the

totally different physical, sensory, and even "intellectual" characteristics of the computers and robots.

In space welding, we are forced to develop welding systems which

can perform certain simple welding jobs without using skilled welders.

We may then find that these systems can also be used for other nonspace applications. By using these integrated systems, some simple

welding jobs may be performed by millions of people rather than by a

limited number of skilled welders.

(4) Development of Welding Systems under Controlled Environments.

Until now most welding jobs, with the exception of electron beam

welding which is performed in vacuum, have been done under the atmospheric conditions of the earth. The earth environment is characterized

by (a) the air, (b) gravitational force, and (c) the ambient temperature.

It is hard to believe that the earth environment is most ideal for

welding many materials. As stated previously, a large portion of the

welding research performed in the world during the last 100 years has been

to develop techniques for minimizing adverse effects of oxygen, nitrogen,

and hydrogen in the atmosphere. As long as welding is performed by

human welders, it is extremely difficult and costly to perform welding

in an environment different from the earth environment. Electron beam

welding is done in a vacuum chamber; however, a large chamber is needed

to perform EBW, and welding jobs must be done by a machine. With the

^r.- i
7

increased use of robots and other means of automation, it may become

possible to perform certain welding ,jobs under a controlled environment

without too much trouble. We may find that it is easier to weld some

materials such as titanium for example, that are difficult to weld in

the ordinary environment, in certain controlled environments (different

shielding gas compositions and pressures, and even at different temperatures.)
4

Fr 8

2. TASK 1: IDENTIFICATION OF PROBABLE JOINING TASKS IN SPACE

2.1 Survey of Past Studies on Space Welding and Related Subjects 4

As the first step for identifying probable joining tasks in space,

a survey was made on existing publications on space welding and related

subjects. The result of the literature survey is presented in APPENDIX

A. The emphasis of the discussions here is placed on identifying (a)

those who are studying, (b) which processes are being considered, (c)

which materials are being used, and (d) which kinds of applications are

being examined.

Serious technical publications on space welding started to appear

around 1966. In 1966, Lawrence and Schollhammer [6601]* prepared a

report entitled "Hand Held Electron Beam and External Power Supply"

under a contract performed at the Hamilton Standard Division of United

Aircraft Corporation for NASA. APPENDIX A contains 121 publications

on space welding and related subjects, of which 53 publications cover

welding and brazing as major topics [see Table 2-1(a)]. Most of the

information on space welding and fabrication has been generated by two

countries, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R., as shown in Table 2-1(a). Among the

53 publications on welding and brazing, electron beam welding has been

discussed in the largest number of articles, as shown in Table 2-1(b).

Other processes that have been discussed for space applications

include solar energy welding, cold welding and diffusion, and

explosive welding, also as shown in Table 2-1(b).

*

When publications included in the literature survey presented in

F

-" APPENDIX A are referred in the main body of this report, the literature

=x identification number used in APPENDIX A is also used. For example,

[6601] is the article #1 published in 1966, and [8009] is the article

119 published in 1980.
9

Table2-1 Numbers of publications on space welding and

related subjects included in APPENDIX A

(a) Classification by Countries

Welding and Brazing Other Total

U.S.A. 15 52 67

U.S.S.R. 22 11 33

Germany

**

12 5 17

United Kingdom 3 0 3

France 1 0 1

TOTAL 53 68 121

*Efforts have been made as much as possible to identify the country where

the work was performed. For example, when a Soviet author presented a

paper in a technical journal published in U.S.A., the paper was regarded

as a publication from U.S.S.R. On the other hand, when an author in U.K.

wrote a paper referring to work done in U.S.S.R., the paper was regarded

as a publication from U.K.

**Includes both the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic

Republic.

(b) Classification of publications on Welding and Brazing by Processes

Electron Beam Weldino 10

Brazing 6

Solar Energy Welding 4

Cold Welding and Diffusion Bonding 3

Explosive Welding 2

General 28***

TOTAL 53

***

Includes two (2) publications on robotic welding and automation.

^;
10

2.1.1. Welding Experiments on Spaceships.

So far there have been only two sets of welding experiments performed aboard a spaceship whose results have been published. Theyare those performed in 1969 by the U.S.S.R. during the Soyuz-6 mission

and those performed in 1973 by U.S.A. on board the Skylab. APPENDIX

A presents a summary of the results obtained in these experiments.

Both experiments, however, were aimed at demonstrating experimentally

that welding of metals could be achieved in space.

(1) Soyuz-6 Experiments. Descriptions presented here come

primarily from a paper by Paton printed in the January 1972 issue of

Welding Engineer. [7201) 

Welding experiments were performed in an

enclosed unit, called the "Vulkan" welder, especially designed for the

experiments. As an autonomous unit, it was connected to the vehicle

systems only with telemetry cables. It had two sections, one of which

contained the welding burners and an electron beam gun, and a rotating

table with samples. The second module consisted of power sources,

control devices for measuring and converting units, and automatic

communication systems. The machine was activated by pilot-cosmonauts.

The experiments were performed using the following processes and

materials:

Processes: Electron beam welding

Low-pressure constricted arc (plasma arc)

Consumable electrode (gas metal arc process)

Materials: Stainless steel 1X18H9T, of which nearest U.S.

equivalent is AISI 321.2

Aluminum alloy AM-6, which is believed to an

Al-Cu alloy .2

Titanium alloy BT-1, its nearest U.S. equivalent

is A-55.2

Table 2-2 presents a summary of test conditions and important findings

of the welding experiments on the Soyuz-6.
11

Table 2-2 Summary of test conditions and important findings

of the welding experiments on Soyuz-6

PROCESS I CONDITIONS RESULTS

Electron Beam 

I• 

Beam Power = 1 kw ^• Weld shape and degree of

penetration similar to ground

• Beam Current = 70 ma based samples

• Welding Speed = 3 m/h• Sound welded joints achieved

• Vacuum ?

I with all alloys

• Slight increase in porosity in

space welded Al alloy, probably

due to lack of buoyancy of

trapped gas bubbles

• EB cutting of all alloys

demonstrated

,

• Arc ignition, arc stability,

and focus of anode spot affected

by amount of vacuum

• On thin samples, weld formation

was similar on Earth and in

space, and is controlled by

surface tension forces

•Sound welded joints obtained

•Some porosity along fusion line

in Ti alloy

*Arc constriction diFficult when

chamber vented into space

Low Pressure • Non-cooled torch

Constricted Arc

(plasma arc) • Argon atmosphere

• Arc Current =

43-50 amps

• Arc Voltage =

26-27 volts

• Weldin g Chamber could

be open to space

• Nominal Arc

Length = 5 mm

i,

G
12

Table 2-2 (continued)

PROCESS CONDITIONS RESULTS

Consumable • Arc Power 1 kw • At low current, molten drops

Electrode grew to a large size and

(GMAW) • Arc current varied remained attached to electrode

by wire feed speed for a long time

• Voltage adjusted via • Increasing current increases

storage battery electromagnetic pinch effect

• Samples were 1 mm • Stable metal transfer achieved

thick using short-circuit technique

or impressed current

• Welding performed in

argon atmosphere or • Weld bead bulged slightly in

vacuum center due to surface tension

forces, resulting in decreased

penetration

• When welding in vacuum, it was

possible to obtain a stable arc

in the vapor of electrode

material
1 13

(2) Skylab Experiments. Presented here is a brief description of

experiments related to welding performed in the Skylab, based upon the

information given in a paper by Baker [73033 and a paper by Siewert,

et al. [77021

On board the Skylab, 54 experiments were performed. Among them,

18 were related to materials science and manufacturing processes. The

following three experiments are related to welding:

a. Metals melting experiment, M551

b. Brazing experiment, M552

C. Sphere forming experiment, M553.

Table 2-3 presents a summary of test conditions and important findings

of these experiments.

In the M551 experiment, the electron beam was used to conduct

typical welding tests. The basic equipment consisted of an electric

motor assembly driving disk-shaped metals at 2.5 rev/min within the

work chamber. The electron beam traversed the disk-shaped plates,

melting a track in the metal and creating a superheated spot in the

centre of 1.5 mm (0.06 inch) beam, Experiments were performed on the

following three materials:

a. Aluminum alloy (22019)

b. Stainless steel (321)

C. Thoria dispersed nickel.

The M552 experiment was performed with the primary objective of

demonstrating feasibility of brazing as a method of space repair and

' maintenance. The equipment was simple. A single assembly comprising

l

four brazing packages was mounted in the same vacuum chamber as M551.

A 19 mm (0.75 inch) diameter thin wall tube of stainless steel was

placed along the axis of each brazing package, with individual tubes

" slit in the center to simulate an end-to-end joining exercise. A

stainless steel sleeve surrounded the simulated joints, brazed to the

rl^

^ ^

i F

x
14

Table 2-3 Summary of test conditions and important findings of X551,

M552, and M553 experiments performed on board the Skylab

EXPERIMENT I CONDITIONS FINDINGS

• The feasibility of doing EB

welding, cutting, and melting

in the low gravity environment

of . space was demonstrated

• Large elongated grains were

observed in ground based

specimens, while the Skylab

specimens had smaller,

equiaxed grains. This

indicates that there is a major

difference in convection

during solidification

• Skylab specimens showed

symmetric sub-grain patterns,

while there was orientation

associated with the solidification front in ground based

specimens

o Cracks or hot tears were

observed in the specimens

processed in space, while ground

based welds did not exhibit

cracks

M 551I • Beam Current =

(metals melting) 50-80 ma

• Beam Voltage = 20 kv

Welding Speed =

58 m/hr

• Samples had regions

of cutting, full

penetration welds,

partial penetration

welds, and a large

molten pool

M552 • Gaps tested • Wetting and spreading of

(Brazing)

0.13 mm

Skylab samples superior to

ground based, resulting in gaps

0.25 mm that were better filled

0.50 mm • Skylab joints of higher quality

0-0.75 mm tapered in terms of defects and porosity
i

15

Table 2-3 (continued)

EXPERIMENT I CONDITIONS FINDINGS

z' l

M 552 • Performed in vacuum

(Brazing)

a cont 'd Braze melted bY

exothermic reaction

• Appears to be no upper limit

to the braze gap in space, so

joints with large fit-up

tolerances may be brazed

•Brazing can compete with welding

in many applications in space

where on Earth only welding would

be considered

I M 553

' (Sphere forming) • Alloys melted by EB

• Some samples released

while molten, solidified while free

floating. Others

retained on strings

of same composition

*Samples solidified via surface

nucleation and growth

• Due to crystal growth during

solidification, the surface

morphologies were not as smooth

as a polished ball bearing

o Most drops were axially

symmetric

• None of the solidified drops

were spherical, probably due

to the fact that the drop

solidifies before the internal

fluid flow dampens
16

tube with an alloy containing 71.8% Ag, 28% Cu, and 0.2% Li. The

exothermic material was encased in a fibrous aluminum oxide, removing

the need for gaseous oxygen and limiting the reaction of the products.

The M553 experiment was not exactly on welding, but it was closely

related to welding. Because of the ever-present gravity on earth, it

is not possible to form metal balls completely symmetric in all

directions. If metals are properly processed in space under zero

gravity, it may be possible to produce metal balls perfectly symmetric

in all directions. These perfect balls may then be assembled to

manufacture an extremely high-performance ball bearing. The main

objective of the M553 experiment was to study the mechanisms of sphere

melting under zero gravity. The experiment was performed using the

same equipment used for the M551 experiment.

Situated 152 mm (6 inches) away from the heat source, a tungsten

sample was exposed to impingement by an electron beam 3.2 mm (1/8 inch)

wide, which was then shut down by a crew member when the sample was

completely melted. After calibration, 14 samples were exposed to the

high melting-rate process in turn. Three of these were nickel,

nickel-tin alloy, and Stellite, which were retained on pedestals during

the solidification process. The other 11 samples were attached to

supporters that permitted the globule to break free as soon as melting

was completed.

2.1.2. Studies on Space Welding other than those Performed in Spaceships.

Besides the experiments performed in spaceships, which are

described in the preceding section of this report, some other studies on

welding in space have been made. They may be classified as follows:

(1) Studies including experiments under conditions that simulate

space welding

(2) Studies with little or no experimental verification.
r.

17

(1) Studies with Experiments under Conditions that Simulate Space

Welding. Space conditions may be simulated by flying an aircraft through

a planned trajectory to achieve up to 30 seconds of dynamic weightlessness, using a vacuum chamber or some other techniques. All the

experiments described in the preceding section were first performed

in experimental chambers aboard airplanes, with similar results.

Other studies which have not been duplicated in space include:

a. Spot Welding. The Soviets performed spot welding in a

vacuum aboard an aircraft flown to simulate weightlessness. 

[7201]

The simulated space conditions did not affect the spot

welding process.

b. Cold Welding. Conrad and Rice [69041 studied cold welding in

ultrahigh vacuum. Since no metal is melted using cold welding,

the effect of microgravity can be ignored; therefore, by using

an ultrahigh vacuum, the conditions of cold welding in space

can be reproduced. The strengths of cold welded joints in

metals with face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice structures,

including silver, aluminum, copper, and nickel, were

investigated. Frankel 169051 also studied the effect of

vacuum on various materials (not joints).

c. Explosive Welding. . Bement 

173081 developed a totally confined

explosive welding technique and was granted an U.S. patent.

The use of this technique could be practical in the restricted area of a space station. Some tests were made on

earth, but no test has yet been made in space.

d. Solar Welding. The Soviets have performed welding and

brazing with the aid of focussed sunbeams. [74011 With

suitable reflectors and adequate shielding of the welding

location in a vacuum chamber, promising results have been

obtained. This method may be particularly important to

welding applications in space; however, the method has not

yet been tested in orbit. Work along similar lines

has been done in the U.S. [75071

i
18

(2) Studies with Little or no Experimental Verification. Studies

with little or no experimental verification include the following:

e. Diffusion Bonding. Derby and Wallace 

[8003] developed a

theoretical model and computer programs in an attempt to

gain understanding of diffusion bonding. The aim was

to develop efficient methods to join metals in space.

f. Ion Beam. The use of ion thruster engines for spacecraft

propulsion may serve as a source of ion beams. 

[77061 This

may be useful for welding in space.

2.1.3. Studies on Various Subjects Related to Fabrication of Space

Structures.

Studies have also bean made on various subjects related to the

fabrication of space structures. Presented here is a brief discussion

of some of the studies, with special emphasis on those subjects that

are related to welding.

The most extensive study in the United States related to space

fabrication has been done by Grumman Aerospace Corporation in regard to

the beam builder. The beam builder manufactures a structural building

block designed for the construction of space structures. The building

block is lightweight and includes a roll formed aluminum alloy truss,

1 meter deep and up to 300 meters long. Vertical braces are spaced

every 1.5 meters and interconnected by diagonal members. The braces

and diagonal members are connected to the beam caps by spot welding.

A complete beam building unit has been successfully tested on land.

The beam builder can be used for automated fabrication in orbit.

Many structures that could be fabricated using the basic building block

of the beam builder have been proposed. These include a Large Space

Structure Platform, communication antennas and orbiting solar power

stations. Further information may be obtained from the following

references: [7605], [7707], [7708], [7802], [7808], [7809], [7812],

[7904], [8005], [8011], [8206]. The use of the beam builder using i

composite materials has also been discussed ([7803], [7907], (8005],

[8010].
1 

19 

Other space structures proposed include utilizing the external

tank ( ET) of the Space Shuttle as a building block for a low orbit space

station or a telescope. These proposals include welding and cutting of

the ET to achieve the required specifications. The advantage of these

structures is that little added thrust is needed to carry the ET into

its low orbit. [80041 One of the key technological needs for fabricating

large space structures is the joining of materials. Due to the limited

payload and size capabilities of the Shuttle, the ability to perform

a major part of the building process in space will make any project more

economically attractive. Since these structures will most likely be

composed of some aluminum or other high strength, low weight metal, the

need for techniques of joining these materials in space is high.

2.2 Basic Considerations for Identifying Probable Joining Tasks in Space

Before discussing specific examples of probable joining tasks in

space, a short discussion is given here on basic considerations on the

complex characteristics of welding fabrication and the unique requirements for space welding fabrication.

2.2.1. Complex Characteristics of Welding Fabrication.

Although welding is widely used because of its advantages over

other joining methods such as mechanical joining and adhesive bonding,

welding has some problems, one of which is that it is rather complicated

and requires some knowledge and skill as discussed below.

(1) Many Different Processes, Materials, and Structures. First of

all, there are many different welding processes which are commercially

available today. Figure 2-1, which is the master chart of welding and

allied processes prepared by the American Welding Society l, includes

about 100 processes. Many of these processes may be used for space

applications. There are many materials to be considered including

steels, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, etc. Welding may be used

for construction and repair of various space structures. Although not
'r r 1-!

20

ORIGINAL PAGE M

OF POOR QUALITY

IOMIC hydrogen weldmg...AHW gal merer arc welaing. _.uTuAw

Due enrol arc welding .....OMAW ,-electfogall ..............GMA%r

Canon arC welding ........CAW AAC -Oulod UC ............ .OMAW.P

-gas ... ...... ........CAW0 WELDING -thorl ClmullrnguC .... GMAWS

-shielded . ....., .,.CAWS JAW) gaslungeloeacweldmg.. OTAW

i

-Mtn ....CAWT -PoledarC ...... ........ OTAWP

IIUA Cored are wilding .....FCAW Saup plasmaarc wilding .... _.-PAW

-Ieallogo ...FCAWEO STATE sR.ILSBNO shielded metal sit welding ...SMAW WILDING Itself obm eic we

lding

welding ...SAW

Cold welding.....,.....CW -wren ...... SAW-II

diffusion welding ......OFW

ESploHon welding ........EAW nc Dtning .............AB IolON welding ..........FOW

IIICIILn Welding .. ....TRW e0LDRAINd we ING OTHER block Dealing.........OB

ddlue^on DUnnp hDt pleasure welding .... HPW lei PAO956I6 WELDING ....,.., -0FC

loll welding cowtIpo I

ultrasonic welding,

mg ........ROW ........F

..... USW furnace biasing .. ..•... F lumen bunny ...... FO I

Induction brannp . .... IS

eolnnn .DS lnlraredbrump ... IRS dIv g. ... ruatAncu Dracing Rd

Iurnacesolaumg ......FS oaTRUtL torch Dealing YU

Induction soldering ....... IS RESISTANCE GAS twin Carbon arc Dealing TCAB

Infrared solderng ......_JRS

YIELDING

G

Iron soldering ..,.INS low) WILDING

lortlince someling .... RS

larch oldenng ^.......... TS election boom welding . EUN

wavesoldaahg .... ......-INS uecposlepweldmp _., ESvV

Ilowwelding .. .. .FLOW

mducllon welding .. ....IW

flesh welding .. .. FW THERMAL ALLIED ADHESIVE lESet beam welding •• _LBW

Mpn peOuencyresetancewelding HFRW SPRATINO• PROCEaSEE HOLDING Ihumll welding .TW

Percussion welding ... PEW ITMNI (ASCII

projection welding „ RPW

Issuranta team "Icing RSEW an oetylena welding RAW

resistance spot valuing SSW oay6elylene welding CAW

upset welding... UW mlyhyalopen weamp •. .OHW

pressure gas welding .. ^PGVv

electric are t paying EASP / CU IND THERMAL ARC

CUTTING CUTTING CUTTING

psla aprepnp ... FLSP Iocl gel IACI ab uClinginp . ..,AAC ama6ppu

c

nQ PSH A

OIL M ro ...CAC

on

OIL mall on is

ee

cul li ng

Culing 

GMAC

gat ChOMICIll Heart culling .FOC mil act culling

u

,MAC metal powder tutting _.POC plasma arc cutting „PAC oryfuelpesculeng OFC straightmall etc culling SMAC -oryacolylenecutllnp OFC•A orn[R -oiyhydrogen cutting. DFC•M CUTTING

-daynalutsl pas p utting :.N electron Deem culling ... EBC -oaypropene culling M. d•P laser beam culling... LBC Gilligan sic culling ....ADC

OIygen ante cullmp LOC

'fiJmabmu • wmm^p prouM

FIGURE 2-1 Plaster chart of welding and allied processes 1

I

f
21

all the processes shown in Figure 2-1 can be employed for welding all

of the materials used for all of the structures, we must consider

certain combinations of (a) welding processes, (b) materials, and (c)

structure and design parameters, as shown in Figure 2-2.

Major structure and design parameters that affect the selection

of proper welding processes and details of welding conditions (such

as welding current, torch travel speed, etc.) are:

(a) Plate thickness

(b) Plate configuration such as a flat plate, a curved plate,

a pipe, a spherical shell, etc.

(c) Joint design such as a butt joint, a fillet joint, a lap

joint, etc.

Regarding welding fabrication on earth, the technology or know-how

of selecting proper welding processes and welding conditions for various

materials in different structure and design parameters, has been

reasonably well established. However, this has been achieved mainly

through experiments and experience over the years with very little

theoretical analysis. In order to successfully accomplish welding

fabrication in space, we must develop a similar technology or know-how

for space welding. A certain amount of research is needed to develop

the technology of determining proper welding processes and welding

conditions for a variety of applications. The research effort will

undoubtedly involve many experiments. However, considering the

extraordinarily high cost of conducting experiments in space, we should

try to utilize theoretical analyses as much as possible in this research.

We must also solve another problem, of how to make sure that proper

welding processes and welding conditions are selected for certain

applications without the physical presence of experienced welding

engineers.

k
22

3. Structure and design parameters

a. Plate thickness

b. Plate configuration (flat plate, pipe, etc.)

c. Joint design (butt joint, fillet joint,

lap joint, etc.)

2. Materials

Steels

Aluminum alloys

Titanium alloys

1. Welding processes

(see FIGURE 2-1)

FIGURE 2-2 Combinations of welding processes, materials,

and structure and design parameters

.i
23

(2) Additional Problems with Welding Fabrication of Complex

Structures. Even though the welding of simple joints in a certain

material is successfully made, it does not necessarily mean that

welding fabrication of a complex structure using the same material

would be successfully achieved. There are certain problems associated

with welding fabrication of complex structures composed with a number

of members.

One of the major problems with the welding fabrication of large,

complex structures is related to residual Ftresses and distortion.

Due to local heating during welding, complex thermal stresses

occur and residual stresses and distortion remain after the

welding is completed. Transient thermal stresses, residual stresses,

and distortion cause mismatching of unwelded joints. Cracking may

occur in joints highly restrained by other structural members. High

tensile residual stresses that occur in regions near the weld may

cause premature fractures of welded structures under certain conditions.

Initial distortion and compressive residual stresses in the base metal

region may reduce buckling strength of the structure. In fact, when

a member is thin enough, welding residual stress alone can be enough

to cause buckling of the member. Subjects related to residual stresses

and distortion in welded structures are discussed in detail in a recent

book by Masubuchi. 3 Since space structures tend to be light structures,

special attention should be placed on control of weld distortion.

In the past, a number of problems occurred during the welding

fabrication of large structures, especially when they were first

fabricated. For example, when ships were first built by welding

around 1910-20, engineers experienced severe distortion problems

affecting the entire ship hull. The most severe problem that has

occurred in welded structures so far is the brittle fracture of welded

ships built in the United States during World War II. 3 Various problems

including those related to distortion were also experienced during the

welding fabrication of huge aluminum tanks containing fuel and liquid

r

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i

1r tl
24

oxygen installed in the Saturn V s p ace vehicle used for the Apollo

lunar missions. 4 One way to avoid or minimize the risk of encountering

catastrophic problems is to proceed with the development plan step-bystep, starting from welding of small, simple joints and gradually

expanding the R 6 D efforts to larger and more complex structures.

Many catastrophic failures experienced in the past occurred in hastily

done programs.

Another important problem in the welding fabrication of a large,

complex structure is how to establish the most suitable welding sequence.

A common practice in the welding fabrication on earth is to arrange

to perform as much welding as possible in downhand position, and to

minimize welding in overhead and vertical positions. This is to improve

the weld quality and fabrication speed. In space welding, however, the

welding position should have no effect on weld quality and welding

speed.

(3) Problems_ Associated with Skills Required for Welding and

Possible Solutions. Manual arc welding, which is still widely used, is

performed by people who are especially trained and qualified. Even in

the case of automatic welding, most machines need to be operated by

people who have received special training.

Let us take a common example of manual gas tungsten arc welding

(GTAW) which is widely used for welding aluminum alloys. The welder

holds a welding torch in one hand. He may also hold a filler wire in

the other hand. After striking the arc, he watches the weld pool

through a dark glass window of a helmet which he is wearing. He must

hold the torch and wire at the right positions and manipulate them

properly to produce a weld beam of an appropriate shape. He must

also move the torch and wire as the weld metal solidifies. In addition

to holding and manipulating the torch and filler wire, he must do

several other things needed fo r welding such as cleaning the metal

surface with a wire brush, and opening the valve of a cylinder containing

the shielding gas. A welder normally goes to a welder training school
25

to obtain the necessary training. He must also pass certain tests to

be qualified as a welder.

We should also mention the problems of many automatic welding

machines. Although many automatic welding machines have already been

developed and used, they are most commonly used in factories where

personnel trained to handle these machines are employed. The welding

industry has always assumed that welding will be done by personnel

with proper training. No automatic welding machine, with the exception

of "instamatic`^' " welding machines developed recently at M.I.T., 5-7

has been developed with an intention to be used by people with no

welding skill. The following pages discuss (a) what has been done at

M.I.T. so far and (b) some thoughts about possibilities of developing

"instamatic s " welding systems for space applications.

Researchers at M.I.T., under the direction of Professor F. Masubuchi,

have been working during the last several years to develop a group

of fully automated and integrated welding systems which package many

operations involved in welding, including feeding the electrode and

manipulation of the torch. These machines can only make the certain

welds for which they are designed, but they can be operated by a person

with no welding skill.. These systems have been nicknamed " instamaticQ

welding systems," since they are similar to easy-to-operate

"instamaticu" cameras" with which a person with little knowledge of

photography can take good pictures. 5-7 APPENDIX B discusses the present

status of the development of "instamatic e' " welding systems.

The idea of developing "packaged welding systems" was originally

conceived while N.I.T. researchers were studying means of performing

underwater welding in deep sea. 5 It is very difficult to find a person

who is an excellent diver and a good welder at the same time. Under

the adverse conditions encountered in deep sea, even an excellent

diver / welder cannot perform successfully all of the necessary operations

needed to make good welds. As a means for solving this problem,
I

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h

t

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26

"instamatic a' " welding systems were originally developed.

M.I.T. researchers then recognized that similar systems could be

developed for various marine applications under both dry and wet

conditions. A research project was carried out to develop "instamatic o "

welding systems which may be used for various applications, some of

which are listed below:

(1) Certain repair jobs on board a ship and salvaging jobs which

must be performed when no skilled welder is available

(2) Certain welding jobs which must be performed in a compartment

where sparks from the welding arc may cause fire or explosion

(3) Certain welding jobs which must be performed in hazardous

environment making it difficult or impossible for them to

be performed by human welders.

In past research projects, the following six types of joints were

studied (see Figure 2-3):

Type 1: Stud welding of a bar to a flat plate, as shown in

Figure 2-3a,

Type 2: Stud welding of a bar to a pipe, as shown in Figure 2-3b,

Type 3: Joining of a flat plate to a flat plate by fillet

welding, as shown in Figure 2-3c,

Type 4: Joining of a pipe to a flat plate, as shown in Figure 2-3d,

Type 5: Lap welding a cover plate to a flat plate, as shown in

Figure 2-3e,

Type 6: Replacing a section of a pipe, as shown in Figure 2-3f.

The actual hardware for Types 1, 3, and 5 , joints have been built

and tested. Further discussions of these designs are given in APPENDIX

B. Under the current three-year research program that started in July

1982, efforts are being made to develop systems capable of performing

simple underwater welding and cutting operations by remote manipulation

techniques. The "instamatic° " welding systems developed in earlier

projects are being used with some modifications. An experiment is being
ORIGINAL PAGE 19

OF POD—

Z.

27

i

a. Stud Welding a Bar to a b. Stud Welding a Bar to a Pipe

Flat Plate

c. Joining a Plate to a Plate

by Fillet Welding

d. Joining a Pipe to a Plate by

Fillet Welding

O

e. Lap Welding a Cover Plate to

a Flat Plate

old new% old

j CJ

f. Replacing a Section of a Pipe

FIGURE 2-3 Basic types of joints which have been studied for

welding by "instamatic®"systems
za

planned to weld a steel stud 19 mm (3/4 inch) in diameter to a steel

plate using a stud welding gun mounted on a manipulator which is

t i

attached to a small undersea vehicle.

There is no precise definition of the "instamaticm " welding

system. An "instamatic e' " welding system is a "dedicated welding

system" which performs only those certain welding jobs for which the

system has been designed. The system may be operated by a person

with no welding skill, or it may even be remotely operated.

Another important feature of an "instamatic e " welding system

is that it contains the piece to be welded in the system, and the

piece is released from the system after the welding is performed.

An "instamatic("' " welding system may be in a form of box containing

components of welding machines and a piece to be welded in a "cassette",

similar to a cassette tape installed in a tape recorder or a cassettetype film in a Polaroid camera. This idea is a radical departure from

the current practice of welding fabrication. Currently, pieces to be

welded are first assembled together, and a welder or a welding machine

comes to the weld location to perform the welding. By contrast, what

we have is a "welding box" which contains all important components of

welding machines and a piece to be welded in a cartridge. In order

to perform a certain welding job, a welding box which contains the

right piece to be welded is placed at the right location on the workpiece.

When the box is activated, welding is automatically performed inside the

box. After welding is completed, the box is removed from the workpiece

while the welded piece is released from the box and remains attached to

the workpiece.

One obvious restriction of this new approach is that such a system

can perform only those jobs which have been predetermined for the

system. However, by properly selecting joints commonly used, a series

of "instamatic m " welding systems may be developed which can perform

significant amounts of welding jobs, especially those which must be

performed under conditions unfavorable to human activities.
it 29

,

a

's

We believe that "instamatic ® " welding systems are ideally suited

for space applications. It is unrealistic, if not impossible, to train

a crew member of a space station to be a welder at the same time,

especially when the space station is manned with a small crew. Even

if a crew member was trained to be a welder, he/she would be wearing a

bulky space suit outside a spacecraft, and would have difficulties

performing all the necessary manipulations needed to make a good weld.

"Instamatid "welding systems are not only useful but also indeed essential

if we are to perform welding fabrication in space in the near future.

It is interesting to note that although it has been almost 100

years since arc welding was invented, almost all welding jobs have been

performed in cities and villages where skilled welders are available.

Very little serious effort has been made to perform welding in remote

places and/or under hostile environments such as outer space, deep sea,

high mountains, arctic and antarctic regions.

Welding in space by use of easy-to-operate welding systems presents

to welding engineers new challenges and opportunities as follows:

(1) Accomplishment of welding fabrication in space by itself

is a very significant expansion of man's ability.

(2) The technologies developed for space welding can be

applied, with some modifications, to developing

technologies of performing welding in other remote

areas and under hostile environments.

(3) once the technology of "instamatic® it welding is well

established, various types of easy-to-operate welding

devices may be developed. Then many simple welding jobs

on earth may be performed by millions of people instead

of only limited numbers of qualified welders.

It should be mentioned that the basic technologies and machine

components needed for the construction of "instamatic ® " welding

systems are rapidly expanding today as follows:

c, s
30

(a) There is a surge of interest in the welding industry in the

increased automation and miniaturization of welding machines and tools

utilizing modern electronic technologies. Some welding machines and

power supplies using solid state devices are very small. same of them

can even be operated by an ordinary 110 volt electric outlet available

at home.

(b) There has been a tremendous increase in the use of robots in

welding and other manufacturing processes. Some components of these

robots can be used as parts of "instamatic° " welding systems.

(c) Many newly developed machines and tools are very "smart"

or "intelligent", since they are equipped with various types of advanced

sensing and control devices. At present there is a strong interest in

developing "smart" welding machines which have adaptive control

capabilities. 8 Until recently, all automatic welding machines have

performed welding using predetermined welding conditions, with no adaptive

control in process. However, M.I.T. researchers, under the direction of

Professor Masubuchi, have been working on a research program for developing

"smart" welding machines for the girth welding of pipes. 9, 10

On the basis of the current technology of automatic welding machines,

we believe that simple automatic welding machines with no adaptive

controls are probably good enough for a number of "instamatic e " welding

systems. However, more sophisticated machines which have adaptive

control capabilities will be needed for other applications.

It is interesting to review what happened in the camera industry

during the last 20 years. Until around 1960 many high-quality cameras

such as Nikon and Canon became increasingly sophisticated and expensive

having many accessories. When Kodak Co. first introduced a cheap but

simple-to-operate camera with the trade name of "instamatic ® ", many

novice photographers were delighted with the new camera. But some

expert photographers downgraded it as a "simple but stupid" camera.

Since then, the easy-to-operate cameras have become increasingly

"smart", and they have gradually taken over a significant portion of
r^r

31

the camera market. In many families today, almost every member has at

least one simple camera, while there may be only one very expensive

camera. In fact, today's "smart and simple-to-operate" cameras

are loaded with sensors, microprocessors and other electronic gadgets,

a far cry from the all-mechanical cameras of 25 years ago.

(4) Welding as a Part of the Total Fabrication Systems. A unique

characteristic of welding fabrication is that welding, though it is

most critical, is only a part of the total fabrication system which

includes:

a. Plate cutting, forming (if necessary), and edge preparation,

b. Assembly of parts to be welded and tack welding,

c. Welding, and

d. Inspection.

A good joint preparation is essential for obtaining satisfactory

welds. A joint surface must be clean, free of grease, moisture, dusts,

and other foreign objects. Edges to be joined must be in exact shapes.

Since welds may have various types of defects such as cracks,

porosity, and lack of fusion, welds need to be inspected. Today there

are a number of nondestructive inspection techniques, including

radiography, ultrasonic techniques, and magnetic particle techniques,

are commercially available.

In developing technologies of welding fabrication in space, we

must consider not only welding itself but also the entire welding

fabrication. The welding operation itself may be performed by a robot

installed in a space station, which can be remotely activated by the

command station on the earth. However, how can we accomplish all

other operations involved in welding fabrication without the presence

of an expert welder? Task 2 of this research discusses the required

levels of automation in space welding tasks.

One possible way to solve the problem is to develop integrated

g

welding fabrication systems or devices which perform most, if not all, e

of the key operations involved in welding fabrication, including plate

t.

^r
ty

32

cutting, edge preparation, assembly, welding, and inspection, in one

package. The "instamatic m " welding devices developed at M.I.T. package

some of these operations. An important question to be answered is

"how complete should the systems be that we develop for space applications?"

More complete systems tend to become more expensive and heavier in weight.

They tend to malfunction more often, requiring more frequent repairs.

Further research on this subject is needed.

2.2.2. Unique Requirements for Space Welding Fabrication.

Welding construction and repair in space has rather unique requirements, different from ordinary welding jobs on earth. Major differences

between space welding and ordinary welding on earth come from:

(1) Differences in environment

(2) Remoteness of space welding from the earth.

1. Differences in Environment. Table 2-4 compares differences in

environments between space welding and ordinary welding on earth. The

space welding environments may be divided into the following three

cases:

Case 1: Outside a space station. Gravity is zero. The atmosphere

is a vacuum, and the temperatures are extreme. Welding may

be done manually, but a worker is in a space suit which greatly

restricts his/her movements.

Case 2: In a vacuum chamber inside a space station. Gravity

is zero. The atmosphere is a vacuum, but the temperature is

at room temperature. A worker does not wear a space suit, but

welding must be done remotely or through gloves attached to

the chamber. The M551, M552, and M553 experiments performed in

the Skylab were done under Casz 2.

Case 3: Inside a space station. Gravity is zero. The atmosphere

is air, and the temperature is at room temperature. Workers wear

no special space suits.
33

Table 2-4 Comparisons of environments between space welding

and ordinary welding on Earth

t

Space Earth

Case 1 Case 2 Case 3

Outside Space In a Chamber Inside Space

Station Insid,,. Space Station

Station Station

Gravity Zero Zero Zero One

Atmosphere Vacuum Vacuum Air Air

Temperature Extreme Room Room Room

Temperature Temperature Temperat

Space Suit Yes No No No

ure
34

The most significant difference between space welding and ordinary

1

welding is that space welding is done under zero gravity. From the

standpoint of ease of welding, Case 2 is the most suited. Case 3 is

least different from the ordinary welding on earth. Case 1 is the

most unique for space welding.

2. Remoteness from the Earth. Space welding must be performed in

locations extremely far from the earth, where there are not large numbers

of people with vast knowledge and experience and no abundant amounts of

material and energy resources. In a space station, only a small crew is

available. Thus, an important subject is how to perform welding, among

many other tasks which require special knowledge and experience. There

are several ways to solve the problem, as follows: 

a. Telepresence of experts. Make the necessary expert knowledge

available through proper telecommunication systems.

b. Remote Manipulation. Utilize manipulators on board a space

station to perform certain welding jobs through remote

control from the earth.

C. Packaging of welding operations. Develop welding systems

which package some of the welding operations in such a way

that certain welding jobs can be performed by crew members

with no welding training.

Another important subject in space welding is how to perform necessary

jobs with only limited kinds and amounts of tools and consumables. Many

commercially available welding processes require large amounts of

electricity. Obtaining the electricity needed for space welding is an

important subject. It is important to develop welding systems which can

be operated by electricity generated from solar batteries. One idea

that has been studied to some extent is to utilize the thermal energy

of the sun by use of a proper lens system.

4
35

2.3 AnL cabilities of Gxisting Welding processes to Space

One could perhaps say that almost all welding processes which are

currently commercially available on earth can be used in space. This

is because the only environmental difference between ordinary welding

on earth and space welding inside a space station (Case 3 in Table

2-4), is the lack of gravity. It does not mean, however, that almost

all welding processes will be or should be used in space. On the

contrary, only a limited number of processes will actually be used in

space in the near future.

An important factor here is that many space structures will be

made of light and high-performance materials such as aluminum alloys,

titanium alloys, high-strength steels, stainless steels, etc., since

it is extremely costly to transport anything from the earth to a space

station. To achieve light weight, most structures should be made with

thin plates and composite materials. Very few structures will be made with

plates over 12 mm (1/2 inch) thick. Therefore, the welding processes which

may be used in space will be those which are suitable for joining

light and high-performance metals. It is important that these processes

do not require heavy equipment using a large amount of electrical power.

Efforts have been made to identify welding (and cutting) processes

which appear to be suitable for space applications. One obvious way to

present the result is to discuss the space applicability of each of the

current welding and allied processes, as shown in Figure 2-1. However,

it will certainly take considerable space to present the results. What

is done here instead is to pick those processes which we think have

good potentials for space applications. The results are given in two

different categories as follows:

(1) Processes which appear to have broad, general applications, and

(2) Processes which appear to have limited but unique applications.

^I N

I
36

2.3.1. Welding Processes which appear to have Broad, General Applications

in Space.

I

Those welding (and cutting) processes which appear to have broad,

general applications in space are listed below with a note for the

reasons for their selection as well as possible problems (see Figure

2-1).

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). This process is widely used on

earth for welding thin plates in aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, and

many other high-performance materials. This process is one of most

promising welding processes for space applications. one basic problem

is how to initiate and maintain an arc in a vacuum. It may be that

this can be achieved by providing a small supply of gas surrounding the

arc. Some research is needed on this subject.

This process is easy to automate, because it uses a non-consumable

electrode, and mechanisms of fusion are simpler than those in other arc

welding.processes such as gas metal arc welding and shielded metal arc

welding. In fact, some of automatic GTAW machines currently available

may be used for space applications with minor modifications.

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW). This process also has a good potential

for space applications, especially for welding thicker plates. Some

experiments on GMAW were conducted aboard the Soyuz-6.

Several arc welding processes, which include such processes as

gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), shielded

metal arc welding (SHAW), and submerged arc welding (SAW), use

consumable electrodes. These processes, compared to GTAW, can produce

larger amounts of weld metal, and thus are widely used for welding jobs

on earth. In fact these four consumable electrode arc welding processes

(GMAW, FCAW, SMAW, and SAW), combined, represent over 902 of all arc

welding jobs in terms of weld length, and perhaps over 50% of all

welding jobs currently done in the world.
37

However, GMAW and other consumable electrode arc welding processes

have inherent problems for immediate applications in space. In these

processes, metal is transferred from the electrode to the workpiece

in small molten particles at very high temperatures; and thus mechanisms

of welding in these processes are significantly more complicated than

those in GTAW. Therefore, automatic welding machines using these

processes tend to be more complicated than those using GTAW. Another

related subject is mechanisms of metal transfer and fusion under zero

gravity. Since GMAW can be easily done on earth in downhand position

(plus g) and in overhead position (minus g), there is no reason to

believe that welding cannot be performed under no gravity. However,

since there has been almost no knowledge and experinece in performing

welding fabrication using these consumable electrode arc welding

processes, some studies are needed before considering the use of such

processes in space.

Probably the most sensible thing to do is first develop the

technology for using GTAW process for space applications, then decide

whether additional efforts on GMAW and other consumable-eletrode

processes are needed.

Plasma Arc Welding and Cutting (PAW and PAC). The term "plasma arc"

is used to describe a family of metal working processes that use a

constricted electric arc. 1 Constriction of the arc is usually accomplished

by passing the arc through a water-cooled copper orifice. Plasma arc

welding is basically an extension of the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)

process. However, it has a much higher arc energy density and higher

plasma gas velocity by virtue of the arc plasma being forced through

a constricting nozzle.

Plasma arc welding and cutting processes will be useful for space

applications. In fact, plasma arc welding was included in the experiments

on board the Soyuz-6, as described earlier. A question here is, do we

really need to constrict the arc by purging a large amount of shielding

r.

L
38

gas, since the supply of that is very limited in space. Plasma are

cutting may be useful for cutting aluminum alloy plates which are

difficult to cut by the laser technique.

Electron Beam Welding and Cutting (EBW and EBC). Electron beam

welding isideal for welding in space where a vacuum is already available.

Experiments on electron beam welding and cutting were performed during

the Soyuz-6 mission, and aboard the Skylab an electron beam was used

for the M551 metals melting experiment and the M553 sphere forming

experiment. Among existing publications on space welding, the largest

percentage cover electron beam welding. It is evident that small portable

electron beam welding guns may be developed and used. [6601] Elder,

Lowry, and Miller of Westinghouse Electric Corporation, under a contract

for NASA, developed the design of a self contained electron beam welding

gun which may be used in space as well as on earth. 11

However, there are some problems to be solved. One is how to

obtain high voltage needed for producing an electron beam with energy

high enough to be used for welding and cutting. Another problem is

how to ensure the safety of workers from the beam and radiation due

to the high voltage used.

Laser Beam Welding and Cutting (LBW and LBC). Laser beam welding

and cutting are also promising for space applications. A very attractive

thing about the laser beam is that it can be used for a variety of

applications including heat treatment, metal forming by heating, welding,

and cutting. However, laser beam welding of aluminum alloys is very

difficult due to the high refractivity of aluminum. Laser beams may

be very useful for cutting.

There are some potential problems connected with the use of the

laser beam in space. One is how to protect workers from accidental

exposure to the powerful laser beam. Another problem is how to

construct or transport the rather complex laser equipment and maintain

it without having properly trained personnel.

a^

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39

f2.3.2. Welding Processes which appear to have Limited but-Unique

Applications in Space.

A number of welding processes may be used for limited but unique

applications in space. However, it is rather difficult to identify

these processes and their possible applications, without knowing

specific structures and tools to be welded. once specific joint tasks,

including materials and plate thicknesses are defined, one could select

the process most suitable for the specific applications. Presented

here is a brief discussion on processes which appear to have some space

applications.

Stud Welding. This is a simple, automatic process which can weld

a stud to a metal surface. M.I.T. researchers, who have been working on

underwater uses of stud welding, have already developed an integrated

stud welding system which can be operated by personnel with no welding

skill. 5-7 They believe that this process can be readily used for

space applications with a minimum of further development work. Although

this process can perform rather limited tasks of placing studs on metal

surfaces, these tasks can be useful for a wide range of applications,

some of which are identified in later parts of this report. The greatest

advantage of this process is that it is possible to develop systems which

can be completely remotely manipulated. Further discussions of possible

uses of stud welding in space are given in later parts of this report.

APPENDIX C presents some additional information on stud welding and its

possible space applications.

Exothermic Brazing. Some fundamental research for the feasibility

of accomplishing the joining of tubes by brazing, heated by exothermic

materials, was performed during the M552 experiment on board the Skylab.

A unique features of this experiment was that all the energy required for

melting the brazing alloy and accomplishing joining was stored in

exothermic powders packed in the welding device, and the powders were

ignited by an ignitor which could be activated by a battery. This type

of idea can be further implemented to develop a group of welding devices

which contain all the necessary energy and materials needed for welding

and perform certain predetermined joining tasks such as joining two tubes.
40

Some Resistance Welding (RW) Processes. Resistance welding

process such as spot welding and seam welding may be used for some space

applications. It has already been found that spot welding is little

affected by gravity. X72013 It is quite passible that a space factory J:

could install a spot welding machine for joining thin sheets of various

materials. Spot welding is included in the study of the Automated

Beam Building. [8009)

However, resistance welding processes tend to require large amounts

of electric current and the machines are usually heavy. Therefore, uses

of resistance welding processes in space will probably be limited, as it

is on the earth. Extensive uses of spot welding are limited to such

places as automobile assembly plants and some fabrication plants of

aerospace companies where many spot welds of thin metal sheets are made.

In many modern automobile assembly plants, completely automated spot

welding machines are part of complex and integrated assembly systems in

which most, if not all, spot welds are made by robots.

2.4 Probable Joining Tasks in Space

The information generated thus far, including that obtained during

welding experiments performed in space ships, indicates that welding of

metals in space can be achieved using processes similar to those which

have been used for fabricating similar structures on earth. Vacuum and

microgravity do not seem to cause significant problems with welding

metals. In fact, when joining some materials using certain processes,

it is easier to weld them in space than on earth.

The major problem associated with space welding comes from the fact

that the work must be performed at locations very far from the earth.

Welding must be performed by a limited numbers of crew members with no

or little knowledge, experience, and skills on welding, using limited

supplies of materials (welding machines, filler metals, shielding gas,

etc.) and energy resources (electricity, etc.).
41

There are obviously many joining tasks to be performed in space

using various processes to join different materials in different shapes

and thicknesses used for a variety of structures. However, it is rather

difficult to determine details of joining tasks such as joint designs,

processes to be used, and welding conditions employed, unless some

details of structural designs are defined. We need to know what kinds

of structures are going to be needed in order to determine details of

how to fabricate them.

However, certain discussions can still be made if we focus on

certain types of generic welding technologies which can be used for

construction and repair of various structures in space. For example,

once the technology of welding fabrication of aluminum structures for

airplanes is established the same basic technology can be used for

fabricating aluminum structures for space vehicles, or even ships and

storage tanks. Technologies fc:r fabricating steel structures for ships,

bridges, and pipelines are similar. Since the major objective of this

research program is to develop novel welding technologies that could

be used for fabricating and repairing various tools, machine components,

and structures in space rather than to develop details of welding

procedures for certain specific applications, discussions here are

focussed on the development of generic technologies of space welding

fabricai'.on.

Probable joining tasks in space may be classified, depending upon

the complexities and scales of the tasks, into the following three

categories:

Category 1: Construction and repair of simple, small tools,

equipment components, and structural members

Category 2: Maintenance and repair of major components of space

stations

Category 3: New construction of large, complex space structures.

j

I
42

As mentioned in an earlier part (2.2.1) of this report, we believe that

it is a good idea to start working on simple cases (Category 1) and

gradually expand the effort to cover more and more complex cases y

(Categories 2 and 3) as the technology develops. Hasty jumps to more

complex cases without having sufficient knowledge and experience often

lead to catastrophies which may result in considerable setbacks and

delays in the development effort.

2.4.1, Category 1: Construction and Repair of Simple, Small Tools,

Equipment Components, and Structural Members.

It would be extremely useful if techniques could be developed in

the welding of various joints of tools, equipment components and structural

components in space. Some welding jobs will be done inside a space

station (Case 3 in Table 2-4), while other jobs will need to be done

outside the space station (Case 1 in Table 2-4).

One could probably say that most of necessary welding jobs inside a

space station could be done almost immediately, if experienced welding

engineers and qualified welders were sent to a space station. However,

this would be difficult to do, since a space station will be manned by

e limited number of crew members who must do many things besides welding.

Therefore, the major problem is how to accomplish simple welding tasks

without having welding engineers and welders present. Completely new

kinds of research and development efforts are needed.

Over the years, people in the welding industry and research laboratories

related to welding have thought that welding fabrication is done by

people who have an adequate education and training in welding. Of course,

manual welding must be done by qualified welders. Even automatic

welding machines are assumed to be operated by workers with adequate

training. Many companies in various countries have recently developed

welding robots. Again, however, none of these welding robots are

designed to be operated by people with little or no training. It is

always assumed that an operator of welding robots must be trained in how
43 ORIGINAL PAGE 15

OF POOR QUALITY

a

Y.

to operate them properly. People in the welding business pporfiaps did

not want to think about developing machines which would not need their

expertise to operate them.

Another underlying factor may be that some business leaders and

research administrators have thought that there are enough people who

are willing to do welding jobs. Thus there has appeared to be little

economic incentive and justification for developing welding technologies

which require no welding skill. We would like to mention, however, that

there is a basic fault in this way of thinking. If a brand new technology

is developed which will allow certain welding jobs to be accomplished

using machines or devices which can be operated by people with no

,r

welding skill, this would certainly open new markets which have never

been explored. Then some welding jobs can be performed by millions of

ordinary people instead of only limited numbers of qualified welders.

An example of the use of welding machines to perform simple construction tasks in the seal welding of mechanical joints. Although

mechanical fastening is simple, it has some inherent problems as follows:

(a) Mechanical joints do not have high rigidity. Therefore, it

is rather difficult to maintain its exact shape, especially

when a number of modules are joined.

(b) Mechanical joints may become loose during service.

(c) It is difficult to obtain air tightness in mechanical joints.

Many structures that are currently being considered for construction

a

in space utilize the joining of pipes to form truss elements. These

structures are designed to be assembled by hand by the astronauts in an

r

y' extra-vehicular activity (EVA) mode. This will require joints that can

be easily fit-up and assembled.

A prototype of this joint has been designed by the Space Systems

Laboratory of M.I.T., and is shown in Figure 2-4. 12 As seen in the

figure, the joint uses two cylinders machined such that they interlock.
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A sleeve is attached to one of the interlocking cylinders, and this

sleeve is pushed into place over the connected joint to keep the

pieces in place. The sleeve is held in place by a spring lock. This

prototype has been used to construct a number of truss elements in the

Marshall Neutral Buo y ancy Facility, and examples are shown in Figure

2-5.17902)

These mechanical joints are designed to have some play in them.

This is necessary to aid the astronaut/builder in fitting up the pieces

to be assembled, and also allows the connector to perform properly even

if some dirt or uther contaminant should somehow get in the way. Also,

some clearance is necessary to prevent the sleeve from cold welding

itself to a cylinder before the connection is completed.

However, once the joint connection has been completed, it would be

beneficial if all potential motion in the joint could be eliminated

(remove the play in the joint). This could be accomplished by welding

the connecting sleeve in place after the mechanical fastening is done.

Two welds, one at each end of the sleeve as shown in Figure 2-6, would

fix the joint in place permanently. This would allow for the ease in

assembly the joint provides and still make of a rigid structure.

For the welding of the sleeve, a device similar to that used to

automaticall y weld pipes on earth could be developed. This space pipe

welder would only need to be placed into position by the astronaut.

Once in place, the welding machine would automatically make the

circumferential weld needed. This "instamatic m " type welder would

eliminate the need for a welding engineer in space (for this task),

and an astronaut could be trained to use it in a minimal amount of

time.

2.4.2. Category 2: Maintenance and Repair of Major Members of Space

Stations.

There will also be needs for developing capabilities of performing

limited maintenance and repair jobs on some major structural members,

such as platforms, bulkheads, shell structures, etc., of space stations
e

E76 Ar

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b. Erection of Apex Assembly Aid

46 ORIGINAL PAGE 19

OF POOR QUALITy

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a. Completion of Tetrahedron Structure

C. Snap joint/union

FIGURE 2-5 Fabricating Structures with Prototype Joint(11)
47

ORIGINAL PAGE 19

OF POOR QUALITY

WELD

FIGURE 2-6 Possible permanent fastening of the M.I.T. connector
45

and possibly satellites. However, since these jobs tend to require complex

and delicate operations, only limited jobs will be performed in the near

future.

Unlike structures such as ships, pressure vessels, pipelines, and

even automobiles which are mainly fabricated with metal plates and sheets,

space structures are mainly fabricated with composite panels. These

panels may be made with thin metals as in honeycomb structures, they may

be made with metals and non-metals, or they may even be made with

non-metals such as fiber reinforced plastics. Welding repairs of these

composite panels are very difficult, and in some cases impossible.

Nevertheless, there still will be some maintenance and repair jobs

which can be done by welding. A few such examples are presented below.

(1) On-Site Welding of Studs for Mechanical Fastening of Structural

"Modules of Space Stations. As stated in the beginning of this report,

most construction jobs in the early stages of the Space Station Program

will be performed on earth, a,(, fabricated modules will be transported

by the Space Shuttle to the space site. Then these modules will be joined,

probably by mechanical fastening methods such as bolts and nuts. Although

most bolts will be placed on earth, we may find it necessary to place some

bolts on site in space. Or we may find that some joints are mismatched,

requiring some bolts to be cut and new bolts placed in different locations.

The stud welding process can be extremely useful for welding stu -I s on

site.

(2) Placing Studs for Various Purposes. Stud welding may be useful

for placing studs on some of major structural components for various

purposes. For example, there will be many occasions in which insulation

materials need to be placed over some structural members. By using

stud welding it iF possible to place studs without piercing holes through

the structural members; then these studs can be used to secure the

insulation materials.
49

(3) Welding Patches on some Structural Members. Some structural

members may be damaged during service. For example, a hole may be pierced

in a will of a space station when it iti hit h a meteorite or other space

debris. It is possible to develop techniques for repairing some of the

damages on site, for example by placing a patch over the damaged area -

a "bandage" over the damaged area of the space station.

Figure 2-7 shows scheirvit;ical: . .aree typical methods of placing a

patch plate over a damaged structural membe, (if a tpa.:e :;ration. A patch

may be lap welded to the structure as shown in Figure 1-7a. 'n the case

shown in Figure 2-7b, the damaged ereas are r•am,.vcd. r_ad ar. int•ert plate

is butt welded to the st r^: _ , ura' In the e.:ase shorn In i',.gure

2-7c, bolts are stud welded to the str+ , -ture, :_nd a pat^-h plate with holes

are placed over the structure to cover the damaged areas; then the patch

plate is securel y fastened to the structure by tightenim; nuts on the • bolts.

Each of the above three methods has advantages and disadvantages over

the other methods. In repairing the structural members of a space station

which is composed of light structures in thin metals, the third method

of placing bolts by stud welding; may be a ver y good method, because stud

welding; call made with very little heat effect to the structure.

2.4.3. Catego r y 3:

- New C-iistruction of Lame, Complex Space S tructures.

The use of welding to assemble large complex structures has many

advantages. Due to Space Shuttle payload considerations, it will be more

economical to launch onl y structural components, saving; the final joining

of these sub-structures until they are in orbit. B y performing the final

construction in space, the :structure does not have to be designed to

withstand the high stresses which could occur during launch. Also, one

of the major benefits of welding; ove, other joining processes is that

welding produces air-tight joints.

Air-tightness is particul • trl^' nportant when considering construction

of facilities to be used b y huma"'- aut in space. .:ithout air-tight joints,

these facilities would be unable co contain the environment necessar y to
s0

ORIGINAL PAGE f9

OF POOR QUALITY

a. Attach a patch by lap welding

b. Butt weld an insert plate

c. Stud weld bolts on the structure and

then securely fasten the cover plate

work holes by nuts

FIGURE 2-7 Three typical methods of placing a

patch plate over a damaged structural

member of a space station
51

sustain life. Thus no space station, space factory, or other space

structure which is to be inhabited by humans could even be considered

if air-tight joints could not be guaranteed.

One proposal now under consideration is carrying the Shuttle's

External Tank (ET) out into orbit and converting it into a space

station. To modify the tank as a space station, a docking adapter/

airlock module (MDA) will have to be fitted to the nose cap of the ET,

as shown in Figure 2-8. Preliminary drawings depict the MDA as identical

to the one used in Skylab, 13 shown in Figure 2-9.

The MDA will be attached to the ET in orbit; it is unlikely that the

MDA could survive lift-off if attached. While the initial connection of

the MDA to the ET may be done by mechanical means, welding the connection

in space should be done to insure that the seam is indeed air-tight.

This is basically an extension of permanentl y securing mechanical

fasteners, as described in Section 2.4.1, but here the geometr y is much

more complex and so either a welding engineer or a highly sophisticated

robotic welder will be necessary.

The majority of structures assembled out in space will not be for

human habitation, but will serve as supports for large communication

antennas, production facilities, space power stations, and many as

vet unimagined ideas. With the development of the beam building (see

Section 2.1.3), a method of producing building blocks for these supporting

structures in orbit has already been demonstrated.

The beam builder is capable of producing an aluminum truss up

to 300 meters lonb. [78101 However, many space structures under consideration that utilize the beam builder will need beams in excess of 300

meters. One possible structure is the offset wrap rib antenna system,

shown in Figure 2-10. 14 The beam builder may be used to manufacture

the truss mast.

To use the beam builder to manufacture a beam in excess of 300

meters, it will. be necessary to somehow connect two (or more) of the
DOCKE

SHUT1

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52

ORIGINAL PAGE 19

OF POOR QUALITY

FIGURE. 2-8 The need for airtight joints in space -- Attachment of

a multiple docking adapter/airlock module to an

external fuel tank used for an orbiting platform
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POSITIONING

SATELLITE

FIGURE 2-10 Offset wrap rib antenna system
55

beams. Examination of prototype beams (Figure 2-11a) reveals that this

can be accomplished by joining the three beam caps of two beams together.

The shape of the beam cap is shown in Figure 2-11b.

It seems that the best and most efficient way to join the end caps

together will be by welding. Mechanical fastening may be used, but this

would involve first attaching the fasteners to the respective beam caps

(possibly by bolts), then aligning the fasteners and completing the

connections. In all likelihood this type of connection would not be rigid

enough, and so seam welding (see Section 2.4.1) of these mechanical

fasteners would also be necessary.

Oa the other hand, welding the beam caps together would require only

alignment and the welding itself. By careful control of the beam builders

raw materials on earth, the need for surface preparation can be eliminated,

as no oxides would form on the aluminum in space. Once alignment is

complete, a remotely manipulate welding machine, most likely using a

GTA process, could complete the joining. The ability to weld these

beams together will make the beam builder a very versatile space construction machine.

To fully comprehend the impact that welding in space may have, it is

necessary to examine an entire system, such as the 10 GWe photovoltaic

power satellite. This proposed system could provide a major fraction of

the U.S. electric power by the early twenty-first century. [7800-1 It

is composed of eight satellite modules and two antennas that would be

constructed in orbit. Solar arrays, power distribution, and microwave

units would be fabrication on earth but would still require installation

in space.

[7808)

An int riguing variation of this is to utilize the moon as a source

of raw materials for the manufacture of the structure's components. [7806]

The major advantage of this idea is the large reduction in energy needed

to launch the raw materials and/or assembly compcnents into orbit. It

is estimated that only 4 to 8 percent of the earth launched requirement

will be necessary.
56 ORIGINAL PAQ1.: jj

OF POOR QUAL17Y

a. Prototype Beam

Beam Cap

FIGURE 2-11 Beams from Beam Builder
57

In this lunar processing scenario, not only will the satellite modules

and antennas need to be constructed in space, but all other components as

well. Table 2-5 gives the equipment necessary to manufacture all of

these components in space. As seen from this table, welding, cutting,

and brazing are vital manufacturing processes.

Even if the lunar processing is not used, the construction of the

support structure and the attachment of the earth fabricated components

will require welding. The support structure itself will require beards

to be welded together, while the joining of the eighth satellite modules

may require air-tight welds. The attachment of the solar arrays and

similar components may utilize stud welding, brazing, or other suitable

space welding processes. If mechanical joints are used, permanent

fastening of the joints may be accomplished by welding.

Although the preceding discussion has dealt with only a few examples

of complex structures, it is clear that all large-scale construction

in space will demand joining tasks. While it is most likely possible

to design such a structure that will require no welding, the cost and

degree of difficulty in its construction would probably make it

unattractive. The ability to weld in space will mace the design,

material transportation, and fabrication of large space structures easier

and more economical.

2.5 Selection of Candidate Rase Materials and Potential Welding Problems.

A limited effort has been made:

(1) To select candidate base materials which are likely to be widel\,

used in future space programs and on which future research

should be performed, and

(2) To identify potential problems in welding these materials.
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CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED 2219 2014 2024 2124

HIGH STRENGTH +

WELDABILITY +

STRESS CORROSION RESISTANCE

+ +

FORMABILITY (Compound Curvature)

(a) + (b) (b)

HISTORIAL EXPERIENCE +

(SD/Industry)

(a) Weight penalty - cannot fully strengthen after forming

(b) Requires ice box treatment between the solution treating

and the forming operations

(c) + indicates outstanding characteristics of the alloy

59 i

60

i

2.5.1. Candidate Materials.

Since space structures are likely to be made of light-weight components,

aluminum alloys will be most widely used. Table 2-6 compares some

characteristics of the primary aluminum alloys considered in the selection

for the orbiter crew module and the external tank of the Space Shuttle. 15

Although the Apollo command module inner cabin structure and the Saturn

S-11 were fabricated from the 2014-T6 aluminum alloy, the 2219 aluminum

alloy replaced the 2014-T6 on the Space Shuttle program. The combination

of strength, stress corrosion, and 'toughness made the 2219 alloy a more

desirable choice over the 2014-T6 for the requirements of the Space Shuttle,

even though there was more experience with the 2014-T6, according to

Whiffen, et al. 15 Furthermore, the 2219 could be repair welded by manual

gas tungsten arc process with little risk of cracking, whereas the 2014-T6

did not lead itself to manual weld repair. Several different tempers

of 2219 were used including -T62, -T81, -T851, and -T87.

The aluminum alloys shown in Table 2-6 may be considered representative

of materials which will be used in future space programs. They include

2219, 2014, 2024, and 2124, with the primary candidate being the 2219.

Thin sheets in these alloys are likely to be used extensively for space

structures. A limited investigation conducted during this research has

revealed examples of actual uses of materials in several space structures

being studied as follows:

(1) The Automatic Beam Builder (see Figure 2-10). The beam builder

used the 2024-T3 alloy. (78101 

The beam end caps, when finished,

are 4 mm thick. It is these end caps that must be welded

together to manufacture beams longer than 300 meters.

(2) M.I.T. Connector (see Figure 2-4). The connector is made of

the 2024 alloy. 

12. 

The sleeve, 3.175 mm (1/8 inch) thick, must

be welded to the cylinders that are 34.925 mm (1-3/8 inches)

in diameter.

(3) Skylab MDA (see Figure 2-8). The shell is constructed of the

2218-T87 alloy, with a nominal thickness of 6.35 mm .i

(1/4 inch). 13

:T

i

si

I;

Table 2-6 Primary aluminum alloys considered in the selection of (15)

the orbiter crew module and external tank of space shuttle
60

Table 2-6 Primary aluminum alloys considered in the selection of

the orbiter crew module and external tank of space shuttle(15)

CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED 2219 2014 2024 2124

HIGH STRENGTH +

WELDABILITY +

STRESS CORROSION RESISTANCE + +

FORMABILITY (Compound Curvature) (a) + (b) (b)

HISTORIAL EXPERIENCE +

(SD/Industry)

(a) Weight penalty - cannot fully strengthen after forming

(b) Requires ice box treatment between the solution treating

and the forming operations

(c) + indicates outstanding characteristics of the alloy
• 

61 

^ 

2.5.2. Potential Welding Problems.

Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process has been most extensively

used for fabricating space structures. A paper by Whiffen, at al. 15

describes problems that were experienced during the fabrication of the

orbiter crew module and the external tank of the Space Shuttle. Although

the 2219 aluminum alloy is readily weldable, strict control of welding

procedures was exercised to meet the reliability and repeatability

requirements of the Space Shuttle mission. The most difficult defect

to overcome in GTAW was the control of porosity due to the inclusion of

hydrogen gas during the welding operations. The welding operations

took place in a controlled environment after strict requirements for

surface cleanliness, part fit-up, shielding gas purity, weld position,

and tooling were met. It was found that the 2219 alloy could be welded

with a high level of weld quality and with a high degree of repeatability.

NASA Contractor Report CR-206416 summarizes results obtained in

19 research programs sponsored by NASA covering various subjects related

to welding aluminum alloys., These studies were performed to solve

problems encountered during welding fabrication of huge fuel and oxidizer

tanks of the Saturn V spacecraft used in the Apollo lunar missions. The

materials used were 2014 and 2219-T87 alloys, and they were welded by

GTAW and GMAW processes. The most persistent problem was porosity in the

weld metal. Other major problems are (a) distortion and (b) reduction

of strength of the heat-affected base metal.

Hydrogen was the major cause of weld porosity. Possible sources of

hydrogen contamination are:

(1) Surface contamination

(2) Contamination of the shielding gas

(3) Hydrogen impurities in the base and the filler metals.

It was found that the surface contamination was the most important

cause of porosity. The surface contamination by hydrogen may be due

to (a) moisture on the metal surface, (b) grease, finger prints, and other

forms of hydrocarbons on the surface, and (c) hydrogen-containing chemical

compounds of aluminum on the metal surface. Studies were also made to 
r 62

!,I determine effective means of cleaning the metal surface. It was found

G that the most effective method of reducing the potential of weld porosity

was to remove a thin layer of the metal surface by machining before

t j welding. Other surface conditioning methods studied include benzene

degreasing, trichloroethylene soaking, anodizing, and silicone coating.

' I But none of the methods studied was found to be as effective as the

machining in reducing the potential for porosity formation.
::; 63

3. TASK 2 - IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED LEVEL OF

AUTOMATION IN SPACE WELDING TASKS

In order to rationally decide on the degree of required or

attainable automation and autonomy in space welding applications, one

should both consider the requirements of the task on hand, the availability of human operators on site, and the current or projected state

of the art in the field.

The understanding of the task requirements is very important

because it can permit the specification of the necessary sensing,

actuation, and decision making capabilities of any developed system.

The availability of a human operator capable of performing high quality

weldin 6 depends on the specific application, but most probably cannot

be guaranteed in space construction or repair.

Since the state of the art is not such as to permit totally autonomous operation, some tasks will have to be handled by the operator and

others by a machine. The question that this chapter will attempt to

address is what tasks can and should each side handle.

3.1 Welding Task Analvsis

Due to the limitations of the existing technology, most of the

currently planned space structures are not designed for welded construction. Thus, only a limited number of possible welding tasks can be fully

identified at this point; some of these have been presented in the previous sections of this report. Through the continued development of

space welding technology, we will be able to achieve more versatile

structural designs, which will be vital to the establishment of permanent

human presence in space.

At our current level of research, we can readily identify some

^,

r'` "generic" welding tasks which are not as application specific as those

^4 previously discussed in this report. At a first level of abstraction,

welding tasks could be classified in a few categories, depending on:

;r
I

64

(a) Whether initial construction, assembly of modules, or repair

is performed,

(b) The type of structure in consideration (pressure vessel,

structural truss, etc.),

(c) The type of structural members to be joined (plate-to-plate,

beam-to-beam, pipe-to-pipe, plate-to-pipe, etc.),

(d) The type of joint being welded and the number of welding

passes required (butt, fillet, lap etc. and single, or

multi-pass welds),

(e) The detailed strength, tightness, and other quality, integrity

and safety requirements imposed by the application (i.e.,

distinction between critical and non-critical applications).

At a next level of abstraction, it would be easy to realize that

welding fabrication almost invariably involves three distinct sequential

steps:

(a) Preparation (consisting of plate cutting and forming, edge

preparation, assembly of parts to be welded, and tack welding),

(b) Actual welding process execution, and

(c) Inspecti^o and quality control.

Carrying the abstraction even further, we can see that all the steps

mentioned above are essentially composed of some very fundamental subtasks which include the following:

(a) Manipulation of welding, cutting, grasping, or inspection tools,

(b) Selection of the process, type, and parameters,

(c) Process control, and,

(d) Evaluation of the joint quality.

In the next few sections, we give a brief description of these

fundamental subtasks and the required or attainable level of automation or

autonomous operation for each of them.

^R
65

3.1.2. Tool Manipulation.

Tool positioning and manipulation is necessary not only during welding

but also during joint preparation (cutting, cleaning, etc.) and weld

inspection, and usually involves:

(a) Positioning of the tool at an arbitrary position and

orientation in space, and,

(b) Tracking of a two- or three-dimensional path at a constant

speed while keeping a constant distance and orientation to an

(arbitrary) surface. ( This is not required by some processes

such as spot or stud welding.)

Tool manipulation during welding fabrication on earth is conventionally handled by a human operator or a mechanical manipulator (robot). For

space environments in particular, the use of a mechanical arm becomes

advantageous due to the limited dexterity of the operator and due to

safety considerations.

Current state of the art in manipulator technology readily permits

a mechanical arm to handle effectively all of the above mentioned tool

manipulation tasks. Such an arm typically consists of a series of

mechanical linkages driven by a number of actuators, usually computercontrolled. The welding, cutting, or other tools are grasped and carried

by the end-effector ( hand) of the arm. Different end-effector

configurations might, therefore, be necessary for different operations.

It should also be mentioned here that manipulation or grasping of the

actual workpiece might be required. This necessitates the use of

welding jigs and/or workpier_e positioners.

A detailed presentation of the various aspects of robotics is considered outside the scope of this study. An extensive treatment can be

found in references (17) and (18)• The basic manipulator performance

measures that have to be given some consideration when designing or

using a mechanical arm for tool manipulation during welding fabrication

are:

i
66

(a) Number of degrees of freedom, which is the number of independent motions which the arm is capable of, and is usually

the same as the number of joints connecting the arm links.

Six degrees of freedom are needed in order to achieve an

arbitrary position and orientation of the end-effector of

the arm (and thus of the tool) in three-dimensional space.

For welding and cutting, however, only five degrees of

freedom are necessary due to the axisymmetry of the tools;

the sixth degree of freedom is usually desirable in order to

avoid workspace limitations.

(b) Workspace, which refers to the range of positions and

orientations that the end-effector of the arm is capable to

reach in the n-dimensional space (where n is the number of

degrees of freedom). The extent of the workspace depends on

both the geometrical dimensions of the manipulator links and

the number of degrees of freedom.

(c) Load capacity, which is the maximum load that the arm can

effectively position throughout the workspace. It usually

depends on the mechanical stiffness of the arm structure and

the characteristics of the actuator motors. Even under no

gravity conditions, load carrying capacity is rather important

because it is related to the arm dynamic characteristics, the

maximum permitted accelerations, and the amount of static

force that the end-effector can exert when in contact with a

body.

(d) Accuracy, which is the maximum error between a commanded and

an attained arm position. Positioning and path tracking

accuracy is an important consideration in welding applications

because it determines whether the weld is actually laid in

the desired location. In robotic welding applications on

earth, the required accuracy is usually specified to be at

least comparable to half the diameter of the filer wire

(if one is used by the welding process).
67

(e) Repeatability, which is the maximum difference in arm positions

resulting from repeatedly commanding the same position under

identical conditions in a short span of time. Both accuracy

and repeatability are strongly dependent on the actual

location of the commanded position inside the workspace, the

type of the kinematic structure of the arm, and the mechanical

design and manufacturing tolerances. Current, state-of-tile-art

manipulators can, nevertheless, readily achieve the accuracies

and repeatabilities required for high quality welding.

(f) Resolution, which is the smallest movement which can be

specified and realized by the control system of the manipulator,

is also :important for accurate path tracking and fine motions.

(g) Seed, which refers to the maximum linear speed of the endeffector and, as most of the previous performance measures,

strongly depends on the arm configuration. The ability to

follow a specified Cartesian path with a specified speed is

very important for high quality welding applications, since

the heat input, penetration, and weld bead geometry strongly

depend on the welding speed.

The tool manipuation required for welding can be readily performed by

a mechanical manipulator as long as the tool position, orientation and

speed along the desired trajectory are known. These parameters can either

be directly commanded by a human operator, pretaught and replayed by the

arm, or extracted from a higher level task description by the computer,

controlling the manipulator.

Further discussion on the subject of remote manipulation will be given

in a later section of this chapter (3.2.3) where the issues of controlling

and teaching the arm are being further examined.

3.1.3 Selection of the Process Type and Parameters.

This is the main function of a welding engineer and basically involves

selection of the type of process to be used, the joint preparation

required and the initial settings for the particular welding variables

that will guarantee the size, shape, and quality of the welded joint that

:f

i
68

is required by the structural design.

The controllable welding process variables include the primary process

parameters, such as arc voltage and current (for the case of arc welding),

welding travel speed, filler metal feed rate (if any filler metal is used),

etc., and secondary parameters such as welding tool-to-workpiece distance,

and relative orientation.

The selection of all the above parameters is normally based on the

expertise of a welding engineer and on possible process qualification tests

that might be performed. The reason that a high level of expertise is

usually required at both the level of the welding engineer and that of the

welder, is that the man and the welding machine use essentially different

languages. The designer can specify the required joint quality, and the

welding operator can observe the joint preparation or the obtained weld

bead parameters. The machine on the other hand can only respond to

controls of the welding conditions (voltage, wire feed rate, etc.). The

role of the welding engineer is therefore to interpret the requirements

and the properly communicate with the machine.

In remote fabrication, however, such expertise cannot be readily

available and these conditions either have to be preset for the particular

task (thus somewhat limiting the flexibility of the overall system), or

have to be adjusted using either remote consultation with earth-based

experts (telepresence), or using some local intelligence, either in the

form of a human operator or a computer-based "expert" system.

Such an "expert" welding machine should also have the appropriate sensing

and control capabilities that would permit interfacing with the welding

process, as well as the necessary intelligence to communicate with the

user on a higher level. Furthermore, it should be capable not only of

i

acquiring and using the expertise of welding engineers, but also to

correct and improve its performance based on past experience.

Although fundamental work in this area is currently under way, no

such expert systems are currently available for welding fabrication and

at this time, a human expert (welding engineer) is required in order to

r

E
69

select the proper welding process and conditions.

3.1.4. Process Control.

Welding process control could be generally defined as the procedure

of sensing the weld characteristics, comparing them to the desired ones,

and then correcting by changing the controllable welding process parameters. This general concept of welding process control is illustrated

in Figure 3.1, where two levels of control can be clearly identified. The

inner control loop refers to the regulation of the welding parameters

(e.g., arc voltage, travel speed, etc.) in the presence of external

disturbances, . based on set - points specified by the higher level weld

controller, that closes an outer control loop by monitoring and controlling the actually obtained weld characteristics.

The most peculiar problem in welding process control as defined

above is the fact that the ultimate output of the process ( the characteristics of the solidified weld bead) is only known after welding is

completed, when there is no possibility of changing the relevant inputs

(welding conditions). This inherent difficulty makes the development

of models relating welding process parameters and resulting weld characteristics very important.

The major determinants of weld quality which can be used in the

specification of the desired weld characteristics are:

(a) Weld bead location and geometry,

(b) Weld and base metal microstructure and metallurgical properties,

and

(c) Structural integrity of the joint and the welded structure

as a whole.

4

The final weld location basically depends on the accuracy in tracking

the welding path (seam tracking). It is strongly affected by any changes

of the position of the workpiece during welding, due to improper joint

preparation, bad fixturing, or thermal distortions. On the other hand,

L

` the final weld bead geometry refers to both the shape and size of the

z^ bead ( defined by the weld width and penetration), and is a function of

c '
70

LOW

WELDING COMPLETED

LEVEL

PROCESS WELD

CONTROLLER k k

INNER LOOP

CONTROL LOOP

HIGH

LEVEL

DESIRED

WELD

CHARACTERISTICS

FIGURE 3.1 Welding process control
71

i

the welding conditions and parameters which affect the molten weld pool

shape and size during welding.

The weld and base metal microstructure and metallurgical properties

in general depend on the weld and base metal selection, and are strongly

affected by the temperature history and distribution during welding,

which determine the heating and cooling rates in the weld and base metal.

The nonuniform and changing with time temperature distribution also

cause complex thermal strains that finally lead to residual stresses,

distortion, buckling, or cracking, which directly affect the structural

intetrity of the joint and the structure as a whole.

Conventional welding systems on earth usually incorporate only the

inner control loop, regulating only some of the welding process parameters

with no consideration given to the obtained weld characteristics. The

outer control loop is probably to an extent closed by the human welder

who can somewhat control the process, and adapt based on his expertise.

Sensing of the weld characteristics, process modelling, and adaptive

welding control schemes have only recently received considerable attention

in several research projects. In fact, the MIT welding research group

has been very active in performing fundamental research on arc-physics,

in-process sensing and control of the molten puddle and bead geometry 9,10

Since human welders are not likely to be available in space, and

since the sensing ability and dexterity of human operators is expected

to be reduced, process control must necessarily be handled by a machine.

The above studies must therefore be continued and intensified.

3.1.5 Inspection and Quality Control.

Inspection and quality control is an important part of all the

fundamental steps in welding fabrication. Specifically, it is first

required during joint preparation in order to determine whether the preweld joint geometry and gap sizes between the parts are acceptable.

Evaluation of the attained weld quality (through sensing of the intermediate weld parameters) is also an important part of welding process

control, as was analyzed in the previous section. Finally, post-weld
72

l? 

'

1

I

inspection and quality control is always necessary in order to guarantee

ri that the obtained welded joint is within the design specifications.

A number of different techniques have been developed and are

currently used for the non-destructive-testing of welds. These methods

a ^ include direct visual, radiographic, magnetic particle, ultrasonic,

i' liquid-penetrant, and eddy current inspection techniques. Although

inspection is conventionally performed by well-trained, qualified welding

i

inspectors, current state of the art is such that automated welding

inspection is considered feasible.

In particular, visual inspection is necessary for both the pre-weld

joint evaluation and the post-weld quality control, and can be readily

automated using an artificial imaging system1 9 Imaging, whether oneor two-dimensional, relies on irradiating the subject with energy, and

then sampling the scattered or reflected energy in some regular manner.

Although both radio and sound waves have been used, the most common

energy source is light, usually visible.

Visual sensing transducers are usually TV cameras that scan a scene

and convert a faster of reflected light intensity values into analog

electrical signals. These signals are generated by opto-electrical

devices, such as vidicons and solid-state linear or area arrays, preprocessed in hardware, and fed serially at a rate of 60 or 30 frames per

second into a computer. The computer analyzes the data and extracts the

required information, such as the presence, identity, stable state,

position, and orientation of objects in the scene.

The major problem in using machine vision for inspection of the joint

or weld bead geometry is the difficulty of extracting three dimension

information from a two-dimensional image. This can be done either by

C'

using two cameras (stereo vision) or by employing special controlled

illumination (structured lighting). For the case of weld inspection in

particular, it seems that the latter approach of controlled illumination

is preferable, because the former approach suffers from the additional

problem of recognizing corresponding points in the two images.

r- i
73

In the structured lighting approach, a spot or line of laser light

is scanned across the illuminated scene and the intercept of this laser

light and the workpiece is a profile of the terrain geometry. A sequence

of these slices can provide a rich base of information on the threedimensional shape of the illuminated piece. Structured lighting has been

successfully employed in robotic welding, for seam tracking applications.

Its use has also been demonstrated for weld bead size geometry measurements.

20

However, visual inspection can help only in determining the visible

weld characteristics. Other techniques, such as radiographic inspection

are important for the recognition of any internal defects. Digital

image processing and computer vision is again very important in automating

radiographic inspection procedures (as well as other Not Destructive

Testing techniques).

3.2 Operational Modes for Space Welding Fabrication.

A number of distinct operational modes are envisioned as possible

for space fabrication in general, and welding in particular. These modes

range from fully manned to fully unmanned autonomous operation and can

be broadly classified under the categories shown in Table 3-1. The main

criterion for this categorization has been the level to which a human

operator is used, his proximity to the task site, and the means used for

translation and effecting the work task.

3.2.1. Manual Welding by an Operator in the Remote Site.

If, in the simplest case, welding is performed inside an enclosed

life-sustaining habitat, then it is no different, operationally, than

that: performed on earth. However, if welding is performed outside the

space: station by an operator in a space suit, then we can further

discriminate between the following modes:
i

74

Table 3.1 Operational modes for space welding

(a) Manual Welding by operator on site

0.1) Welding in enclosed life-sustaining habitat

(a.2) Welding outside an enclosed habitat

(a.2.1) Unaided Extra-Vehicular Activity (E.V.A.)

(a.2.2) Aided E.V.A.

. Manned Manuvering Unit (MMU)

. Open Cherry Picker (OCP)

(b) Remotely Manipulated Welding

(b.l) Remotely manipulated from an operator on site

(b.1.1) Manipulation Using the Remote Manipulator

System (RMS) of the shuttle

(b.1.2) Manipulation from a Manned Remote Work

Station (MRWS)

(b.2 Remote manipulation from Earth (Telepresence)

(c) Fully autonomous unmanned welding systems

(a) Unaided EVA (Extravehicular Activity) where no special

operator translation or positioning devices are employed,

apart from handholds (i.e., handrails attached on the

structure and other restraints (such as waist tethers)

needed in order to achieve force emission capabilities.

(b) EVA using translation aids, where other means are used to

transport and position the operator in the remote site.

Several such alternatives for safely and conveniently

placing a human operator at a work-site have been studied

by NASA over the past decade and some of the research programs

are referenced in the general bibliography (7006], (7409].

M
75

[7908]. The studied or developed translation and positionining techniques refer to both autonomous personal translation devices and to the use of a remote manipulator

system. (`

In EVA using translation aids, an example of the first approach is the

use of what is often referred to as a Manned Maneuvering Unit (M.M.U.) which

is a self-contained system and can provide a suited and pressurized operator

means for translation to and from various sites under external power.

Propulsion in all directions, attitude control, and possibility for grasping

to a worksite is provided by the unit.

The concept of an Open Cherry Picker (OCP), is an example of the

latter approach, where a special platform mounted on the end of a

manipulator system can provide the means for conveniently transporting

and positioning an EVA operator, tools, and other mission hardware. The

manipulator can be either the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (RMS)

or another general purpose manipulator, mounted on a station near the

worksite.

The main advantage of the OCP approach is the increased capacity,

permitting the transfer of possibly bulky joining hardware. Its main

disadvantage (as compared to MMU) is the limited workspace and difficulty

to reach confined worksites.

Regardless of the actual means used for translation, the human

operator will have to manually position and manipulate the welding,

cutting, or inspection tools. Since the space suit and the life support

system will have to be carried at all times, the dexterity and sensing

ability of the operator will be reduced. Furthermore, safety considerations cannot permit the use of not-enclosed welding arcs or high

power processes. Electromagnetic interference might also be of some

importance when working in the environment of the electrically noisy

welding arc. Finally, task duration will be severely restricted by

the limited autonomy of the personal life support equipment and the

increased possibility of operator fatigue.
76

I For the case of manually operated space welding, it seems important

to develop totally enclosed welding systems (similar to the ones

described in APPENDIX B) that simply need to be positioned in the p;:oper

place in order to perform a prespecified welding operation.

I

3.2.2. Remotely Manipulated Welding.

Remote teleoperation is essentially an interim case between fully

manual and fully autonomous operation. Teleoperation usually refers to

the process where a human operator performs se-1eing and/or manipulation

tasks remotely by use of artificial sensors and actuators. In this way

the sensory-motor functions of the operator can be extended to remote

or hazardous environments. 21 Teleoperation becomes important in a number

of applications, such as utilization of outer space or deep ocean,

servicing of nuclear reactors, handling of contaminated or hazardous

payloads etc.

In early teleoperntor systems, sensing and control was entirely

handled by the operator. Sensing usually consisted of direct visual

(or video) feedback and possibly force feedback; actuation was performed

by means of master/slave control or a joint rate joystick. In master/

slave teleoperation, the operator uses the master (a scaled or life size

copy of the remote manipulator) in order to command a particular motion

of the slave. In rate control, a joystick is used to command the rates

at which the individual joints of the slave arm are to be moved.

In current teleoperation systems, however, some of the sensing,

decision making, and actuation tasks are usually handled by a computer.

This mode of operation, where control is shared between the operator

and the computer is usually called "supervisory control", since the

human operator acts more like a "supervisor" of the process. This

hierarchical control scheme has applications in several other areas

in addition to remote manipulation such as industrial process control,

vehicle control, and information systems.

In all these cases, the computer can either share control with

the operator (thus extending his abilities or relieving him of some of
,y

the low-level control burden) or trade con+, rol totally replacing him for

some particular preprogr=mined tasks. The extent of this sharing or

trading of control depends on the task at hand and the sophistication

of the computer system.

The human operator usually performs the higher level• task planning,

4i deciding on overall goals, trade-offs, aiethods, and required low-level

actions. He also teaches the computer the required procedures for each

task, monitors the progress of the task (either directly, or indirectly

tithrough the computer) and decides when and whether it is required to

`s

intervene by correcting or totally bypassing the computer. Furthermore,

the operator has learning ability and is able to use his experience to

i improve his future performance.

In remote manipulation systems, in particular, it is also not

uncommon to further divide the computational effort and provide local

intelligence both where the operator is located and at the remote

task site. This is usually considered necessary in order to avoid

communication problems, and is only currently possible due to the ready

availability of compact and powerful microcomputers. The remote site

computer is usually assigned the function of monitoring and locally

controlling the remote task based on commands sent either by the other

computer or directly by the operator. The computer at the operator

site is used for displaying information to the supervisor and aiding

him in his planning, teaching or learning functions.

Current progress in artificial intelligence makes possible the

substitution of the operator even in these higher level functions. It

also permits computers to perform increasingly more complex planning

or learning tasks, giving them greeter autonomy.

operationally, we can distinguish between (a) remote manipulation

with the operator located in space, and (b) with the operator located on

6

earth. The latter case imposes the additional limitation of a

communication time delay, but has the advantage that a trained welding

"expert" can be used to perform the remote task.

t
F , 

I

78

(a) Remote manipulation with the operator located in space:

Some different possibilities for remote manipulation with the operator

in space have already been studied by NASA and various subcontractors

[69071, [7006], [7203], [7407], [7906], [7908]. The use of the

remote manipulator system (RMS) of the shuttle has been proposed and

examined as a first obvious choice. However, its applicability in

complicated joining or other fabrication operations is rather limited

due to its size, limited dexterity and sensing capabilities.

An operator base, equipped with sevcral dexterous manipulator

arms and sensing devices, is usually considered a proper alternative for

such tasks. An example of such an operator base for manned space

manipulation is the concept of the Manned Remote Work Station (MRWS) which

will be a universal crew station to be used as a space crane turret,

a railed work station, a closed cherry picker, an airlock, or a manned

free flyer[7908]

In these modes, the MRWS will provide support for construction

maintenance, repair and servicing operations. Its early versions will

more probably evolve from an EVA support station or an open cherry

picker (OCP),,for use on the shuttle. Ultimately, however, it will be

used in large scale space construction both at Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

and at Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO).

A modular design has been proposed for the planned final configuration

of the MRINT S, which involves a cabin core with access hatches and other

berthing or vehicle mating interfaces, a stabilizing grasping arm and

two (or more) dexterous manipulators [7908]

(b) Remote manipulation from earth:

Remote manipulation from earth will permit the best use of human

experts who are not likely to be available in space.. It has the main

disadvantage that the large distances involved introduce a significant

• communicat'i time delay. This round trip time delay is composed of

the time needed for a control command to travel to the teleoperator

and for the first indication of response to travel back. The delay
79 

will therefore be twice the distance divided by the speed of signal

i

propagation.. The effects of transmission delay on human performance

during remote manipulation have been studied in the past by various

investigators. Transmission delay was also one of the factors studied

in the experimental simulation of remote welding performed in this study,

and presented in Appendix D.

Regardless of the proximity of the operator to the remote task,

the welding cutting or inspection tools will be handled by the manipulator

arm, whereas the human operator will be directing the whole operation

enclosed in a life sustaining, "shirt-sleeve" environment. Therefore, ;

unprotected open arcs or high power processes can be used, since the

potential operator hazards are minimal. Furthermore, task duration

can be longer since no personal life support equipment is used and

operator fatigue is easier to avoid.

There are, however, several issues that need to be considered and

resolved for the successful design and effective use of a remotely

manipulated welding system. These basically include the following:

(a) Examination of the manipulator capabilities expressed by

various performance measures such as number of degrees

of freedom, extent of the workspace, accuracy, repeatability,

resolution, and speed;

(b) Examination of the required sensing capabilities which can

include visual, proximity, touch or force sensing, as well

as sensing of welding variables and evaluation of the weld

quality; and,

(c) Examination of the Man-Machine interface which basically

refers to the selection of the relative roles of the human

operator and the computer, the evaluation of various means

for ionitoring and displaying information relevant to the

task, the development of teaching (or programming) modes nnl

languages, and the provision for operator intervention.
80

i

HI

I

The manipulation capabilities required in order to effectively

perform remote welding have been examined in the section on tool manipulation (3.1.2). The sensing requirements have also been examined in the

sections on welding process control and weld inspection (3.1.4 and

3.1.5).

Work on the various aspects of the man-machine interface design

for remote manipulation in space has been performed by a number of

investigators in the various NASA projects mentioned earlier. Fundamental work on the general subject of man-machine systems is being performed by Sheridan and co-workers at M.I.T. 21, 22, 23 In a recent

study, Yoerger has investigated various aspects relevant to the manmachine interface design for remote underwater manipulation?' He

was actually able to show that task performance was improved when

manipulation was performed in a supervisory control mode, where a

computer was used to perform a task that the operator taught.

3.2.3, Totally Autonomous Systems.

In both the previously examined cases (manual and remotely manipulated welding in space), a human operator is available and ; -'arms

either the joining operation with hand-held tools or only handles the

higher level functions, supervising the operation actually performed

by a manipulator and a computer.

On the other hand, in a completely autonomous system, the role of

the operator will be diminished and the computer will be handling even

the higher level functions of planning, learning and decision making.

Although the development of such a totally autonomous system is

not currently feasible, the very active research in artificial

intelligence and related fields can most likely guarantee that such a

development will soon be possible. NASA, recognizing the importance

of these developments, has sponsored a number of studies on the subject

such as for example [7906], [8012] and [8208].
81

The major research areas that are generally recognized as important

in the development of autonomous systems are [8012]:

(a) Planning and Problem Solving,

(b) Machine Perception,

(c) Natural Language Understanding,

(d) Expert Systems,

(e) Automation, Teleoperation, and Robotics,

(f) Distributed Data Management,

(g) Cognition and Learning.

Because manual welding in space is not currently feasible, it is natural

that the development of space welding, systems and concepts should start

with the simplest hand-held packaged tools, and proceed through the

development of remotely manipulated and partially computer controlled

systems. Then, after the major stumbling blocks in the development of

autonomous systems are overcome (through research in the artificial

intelligence fields mentioned above), the totally automated welding

fabrication systems will become a reality.

Therefore in this study we will mainly concentrate in the first two

directly feasible operational modes which will pave the way for future

totally autonomous systems.

3.3 Experimental Study.

An experimental study was initiated at MIT in order to rationally

establish the fundamental components of the generic remote joining

tasks that can or should be automated. Since the current state of the

art limits the extent of such automation, there will be necessarily

some higher level tasks that need to be performed by the human operst.r.- ,

The tasks that are most difficult (or even impossible) to be effectively performed remotely, and that disappropriately increase the total

completion time, are more likely to be passed on to a local computer.

In the confines of this initial investigation, only the positioning

and path tracking manual control tasks were examined. Welding process
82

control will be handled to an extent by a machine and was not further

investigated. This is justifiable since welding skills should not be

expected to be available in space, the technology for regulating the

welding variables is readily available, and the state of the art in

welding process control is rapidly advancing.

For simulation of remote manipulation, the facilities in the ManMachine Systems Laboratory of the Mechanical Engineering Department at

MIT were used. Two sets of experiments were designed and a complete

description of the experimental setup and the obtained results are

presented in Appendix D.

This experimental study is still underway. The results obtained to

date nevertheless indicate that welding performance can be significantly

impaired during remote manipulation, especially when time delay is

present. It is, therefore, preferable to avoid performing welding

path tracking manually. As was previously detailed, this task can be

readily handled by a computer controlled manipulator. The operator

must be used to initially position the tools, teach welding paths, and

plan the welding operations. This human supervision is considered

particularly necessary in situations that are difficult to preplan, such

as during repairs.

3.4 Discussion and kecommendations.

From the previous discussion, the following conclusions can be drawn:

(a) Because manual welding in space has not been feasible, it is

natural that the development of space welding systems and concepts should start with the simplest hand-held packaged tools

and proceed through the development of remotely manipulated

and partially computer controlled systems. Then, after the

major stumbling blocks in the development of autonomous

systems are overcome (through research in other fields) the

totally automated welding fabrication systems will become

a reality. Therefore, in this study we will concentrate on

the first two directly feasible operational modes which will

pave the way for future totally autonomous systems.
83

(b) For the case of manually operated space welding, it seems

advantageous to develop totally enclosed packaged welding

systems (similar to the ones described in APPENDIX B) that

simply need to be positioned in the proper place in order

to perform a prespecified welding operation. Except for

initial positioning, all other welding subtasks, such as

tool manipulation, and process control will be handled by

the system. This is considered necessary due to the limited

dexterity and sensing ability of the operator, the reduced

task duration, and operator safety concerns.

With these systems, no welding skill is required of the

operator. However, the flexibility of such systems is

minimal since they handle a single welding geometry and

configuration and most of the parameters are expected to

be known and preset. The stud welding gun and some of the

"instamatic ® " welding machines that are proposed later in

this report are examples of such systems.

(c) In the case of remotely manipulated welding in space by an

operator on site, high power and/or non—enclosed processes

can be readily used. It seems that the operator must teach

welding paths and plan the welding operations. Tool manipulation over the taught path, as well as process control,

can and should be handled by the machine. Human supervision

is considered particularly necessary in situations that are

difficult to exactly preplan such as repairs.

(d) Remote welding from earth is affected by the time delay and

is feasible only if a relatively high L=gree of autonomy is

possible at the remote site that would require only minimal

supervision from earth.
84

4. TASK 3: DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL SPACE WELDING CONCEPTS

In order to successfully accomplish construction, maintenance, and

repair of space stations, we need to develop novel welding concepts.

The necessary research and development efforts may be classified into:

(1) Efforts to develop space welding technologies which do not

require the on-site presence of welding engineers and

welders, and

(2) Efforts to develop new welding processes and procedures

uniquely suited for space applications.

4.1 Development of Space Welding Technologies which Do Not Require

the On-site Presence of Welding Engineers and Welders

The efforts necessary to develop space welding technologies which do

not require the on-site presence of welding engineers and welders will

include the following:

(1) Efforts to develop welding systems which can perform certain

welding jobs through completely remote manipulation,

(2) Efforts to develop welding systems by which operators with

no welding knowledge and skill can perform certain welding

jobs, and

(3) Efforts to develop technologies for performing certain

welding jobs through proper guidance and assistance from

the earth station.

4.1.1. Development of Completely Remote Welding Technology

We believe that it is technically possible to develop welding

systems which can perform certain simple welding tasks through completely

remote operations. One possible example is a stud welding system. M.I.T.

researchers are currently working on a research program which has the

objective of developing technologies of underwater welding by remote
85

g'r

manipulation techniques. 7 Efforts are being made to develop a stud welding

r

^. system which can perform underwater welding b being Y P S Y B attached to a

manipulator which is then attached to an underwater work vehicle.

A similar stud welding system can be developed for space applications.

APPENDIX C presents the results of a preliminary investigation of the

feasibility of using stud welding in space. A major unsolved problem is

that we do not yet know how to initiate and maintain an arc necessary

for stud welding in a vacuum. It may be necessary to have some mechanisms,

such as to feed a small amount of gas near the weld zone, to perform stud

welding in space. The only thing that a crew aboard a space station needs

to do is to place the welding system at the right location. Then all

other necessary operations, including s.:lection of appropriate welding

parameters and activation of the welding operation, will be performed by

personnel in the command station on earth. Once this technology is

established, it will be possible to further advance the systems in such

a way that even the positioning of the welding systems at right locations

can be done by manipulators. If this technique is established, welding

may even become possible using an unmanned space vehicle.

Completely remote welding techniques may be developed using processes

other than stud welding; however, further research is needed to (1)

identify good candidate processes and (2) to develop designs of feasible

welding systems.

4.1.2. Development of Integrated and Automated Welding Syseems which can

be Operated by Persons with no Welding Skill

We believe that it is possible to develop technologies of performing

certain simple welding jobs by using integrated and automated systems

which can be operated by persons with no welding knowledge and skill.

M.I.T. researchers have already developed basic systems of "instamatic°

welding for marine applications (see APPENDIX B). Similar systems can

be developed for space applications. It is also important that newly

developed systems will have additional features as follows:
86 

(1) The systems should have in-process sensing and control

capabilities ("smart" welding machines), and

(2) The system should be an integrated system covering all

necessary actions involved in welding including cutting,

edge preparation, welding as well as inspection.

Welding Machines with Adaptive Control Capabilities. An important

feature of manual welding is that a human welder is a complete system

with adaptive control capabilities. In other words, the human welder

follows the welding operation and provides necessary manipulation of

the electrode using his hand. Most automatic welding machines on the

market today do not have such adaptive control capabilities. In using

these automatic welding machines, optimum welding conditions are established by experiments for the particular joint conditions (joint type,

plate thickness, etc.) and they are used in actual fabrication. Some

modern automatic welding machines are equipped with seam tracking devices

to guide the welding torch along the joint to be welded. However, almost

all welding machines do not have adaptive control systems capable of

sensing what goes on during welding and providing necessary adjustment

in welding conditions in real time.

The development of "smart" welding machines with adaptive control

capabilities is an important research subject in welding today. For

example, M.I.S. researchers, including Professor K. Masubuchi, have been

engaged in basic research whose objective is to improve reliability of

welding by in-process sensing, analysis, and control. 9, 10 Studies on the

automatic control of welding have been made in a number of laboratories.

Efforts should be made to incorporate the results of these recent studies

in the development of welding systems for space applications.

Integrated Welding Fabrication Systems. As stated earlier, welding

is only a part of a total fabrication system which includes several

steps including cutting, forming, assembly of parts, welding, and

inspection of welds. And these steps are interrelated. For example,

i unless joint edges are properly cut and parts are assembled correctly,
87

it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain good welds. If

welds are found to be defective during the inspection, the portion of

the weld containing defects must be cut again and rewelded. In ordinary

h

fabrication on earth, there are specialists covering each of these

important steps, including those in charge of cutting, forming, welding,

and quality control. It will not be possible to have such specialists on

each step in space fabrication. Therefore, it is extremely important

that welding fabrication systems are adequately integrated to be capable

of performing some, if not all, of the important steps involved in welding

fabrication.

Complexity, Cost, Maintenance. An important subject here is how

complicated a machine should be developed. If one develops an allpurpose machine which can weld many types of joints, it would become

rather large and very complicated. These complex machines are not only

expensive but also difficult to operate. Complex machines also tend to

malfunction more often and requires more frequent repairs. Perhaps the

most sensible way is to develop several different types of machines each

capable of performing certain types of welds.

4.1.3. Development of Welding Technologies through Telepresence.

Utilizing of the current welding and robotics technologies, .

systems which are discussed in the preceding parts (4.1.1 and 4.1.2)

will be able to perform very simple welding tasks. It is perhaps worth

thinking about another approach thatwill develop technologies for performing

certain welding jobs through technical assistance from the earth using

telecommunication techniques including TV cameras, telephones, etc. In

other words, welding experts in the command station on the earth provide

the crews with necessary technical information. Through this method,

much technical information, such as what welding conditions must be used

for certain applications, can be transmitted. Certain actions may even

be done by robots through remote manipulation.
88

The best approach may well be to utilize the combined capabilities

of (a) automated machines, (b) human presence aboard the space station,

and (c) expert knowledge available on earth. This combined system may

be useful for performing the somewhat complex welding jobs which cannot

be done by machines, which are discussed in 4.1.1 and 4.1.2,

4.2 Development of New Welding Processes and Procedures Uniquely Suited

for Space Applications

There is a need to develop new welding technologies uniquely suited

for space applications, which are radically different from the welding

technologies used on the earth. A few examples are as follows:

(1) Space Electron Beam Welding Technology. When electron beam

welding is used on earth, great efforts are made to obtain a

vacuum. For example, samples to be welded must be placed in

a vacuum chamber or a rather sophisticated system must be

developed to provide vacuum environment to areas near the weld;

thus, large machines are needed to produce the electron beam

welds on earth. These are not necessary when electron beam

welding in space. One can develop a new system of electron

beam welding uniquely suited for space applications. Electron

beam welding guns small enough to be portable may also be

developed. Some efforts along this line have already been made.

(2) Space Exothermic Brazing Technique. Some basic work was already

done during the M552 experiment on the feasibility of accomplishing

the joining of tubes by exothermic brazing. It is worth exploring

the feasibilities of developing designs for devices which can

perform certain joining tasks in space.

(3) Solar Welding Systems. Another very likely method of welding

in space is to utilize solar heat by use of properly designed

optical lens systems. Again, some efforts along this line

have already been made.
89

5. TASK 4: FUTURE STUDIES

In earlier parts of this report, discussions are given on probable

joining tasks in space (2.4) and the development of novel space welding

concepts (Section 4). This section presents several research programs

with specific objectives of accomplishing what has been discussed in

2.4 and Section 4. The recommended research programs are classified

into two groups, as follows:

Group A: Research Programs Recommended to be Performed Immediately

Research Program 111: Development of Space Stud Welding Systems which

can be Remotely Manipulated.

Research Program 112: Development of "Instamatic ® " GTAW Systems for

Space Applications which can be Operated by an Astronaut with no

Welding Training.

Research Program 113: Development of Flexible Space Welding Systems.

Group B: Research Programs Recommended to be Performed After Some

Results of Group A Research have been Obtained.

Research Program 114: Research on Space Welding using GMAW, EBW, and

LBW Processes.

Research Program 115: Research on Special Joining Techniques

Suited for Space Applications.

Research Program 116: Development of Integrated Fabrication Systems

for Certain Complex Space Structures.

Discussions on Research Programs 111, 112, and 113 are rather specific

and in detail, since we already have concrete ideas about (a) what should

be done and (b) what is perhaps achievable. On the other hand, discussions

on Research Programs 114, 115, and #6 are rather general and brief, since

r
90

plans for these programs may be significantly affected by the outcome of

Programs 111, 112, and p3.

In developing space welding technologies, we must recognize that not

a single actual weld has ever been made in space. Welding experiments

were performed in 1969 by the U.S.S.R. during the Soyuz-6 mission and in

1973 by the U.S.A. during the Skylab mission. However, these were scientific

experiments to demonstrate that welding can be achieved successfully under

microgravity conditions.

If we compare the state of the space welding technology to that of a

human, we could probably say that the present state of the space welding

technology is similar to that of an unborn fetus. What we are proposing

under Research Programs 111, 112, and 113 is equivalent to an effort to

make an infant successfully crawl and totter a few steps. This will

lead to a healthy, walking child who will soon run and jump. Just like

a parent of a child who would like to see their child grow as soon as

possible, we are very anxious to see space welding technologies develop

as fast as possible and as far as possible. But we must have enough

patience to develop the technologies step by step, first developing methods

of performing simple welding tasks using processes which we know will work,

and then gradually expanding our capability to perform increasingly more

complex tasks using more sophisticated techniques.

We should also start looking at the space welding techniques that

are likely to be used extensively in the distant future, say in 2020 or

2050. It is reasonable to assume that GTAW and possibly GMAW processes

are likely to be used extensively for welding space structures which will

be made in light metals and materials with high strength-to-weight ratios

such as titanium alloys. However, if we imagine which processes are

likely to be used extensively in space in 2020, many of us may agree that

among the processes which are known to us now (see Figure 2-1), electron

beam welding (EBW) and laser beam welding (LBW) look very promising.

Therefore, possible uses of these processes in space should be studied

extensively. This is the reason for proposing the Research Program A.
91

There may be some joining processes which are very useful for some

space applications. They include such processes as cold welding, diffusion

bonding, explosive welding, exothermic brazing, and solar welding. In

fact some studies on the possible space applications of these processes

have already been made, as discussed in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2. Research

Program 115 is to study these and other joining processes suited for

some space applications. We recommend, however, that this research

program be given a low priority unless some process becomes essential for

certain important applications.

As stated earlier (Section 2 . 3) many joining processes which are

available on earth today can be used in space if we decide to use them.

Consequently, the joining processes to be used often depends on the

structures which need to be fabricated. For example, spot welding has

been selected for the Automatic BL--v Builder. [8009) In developing space

welding technologies, there are basically two approaches. One is to

develop technologies around certain generic joining processes such as

stud welding and the GTA14 process. The emphasis of this research has

been placed on this first approach. The other approach is to select and

develop joining technologies which are most suitable for certain structurt:s which need to be fabricated. For example, if we need to make a

long pipeline in space, such processes as high-frequency resistance

welding may become very attractive. In fact, for some specific

applications, it may be possible to design and construct a completely

integrated and automated fabrication system for certain applications.

The reason for recommending Research Program 116 is that there may

be a need to look into space welding technologies from the viewpoint of

structures needed to be fabricated. However, as far as the development of

welding technologies are concerned, this research program should be

given a low priority unless certain important applications are identified.

One suggestion along this line is to engage in cooperative efforts

with researchers working on other research programs included in the

Innovative Utilization of the Space Station. In the 18 programs currently

C - ^

4
^I 92

included in the Space Station Project, many types of structures, tools

and equipment need to be fabricated. Sonic of them may present interesting

welding problems. The development of certain joining techniques in

space may be very useful for performing some of the research programs.

M.I.T. researchers are very willing to look into these possibilities.

The following pages describe further details of the six recommended

research programs.

5.1 Research Program 01: Development of Space Stud Welding Systems

which car, be Remotelv Manipulated.

It is recommended that a research program be carried out with the

objective of developing space stud welding systems which can be remotely

man+.pulated. The only thing, that an operator aboard nspace station must do

is to place the welding system at the right location, either manually or

using a simple manipulator. Then all other necessary operations, including

selection of appropriate welding parameters and activation of the welding

operation, are to be performed by personnel in the command station.

APPENDIX C identifies some technical problems which need to be solved

in order to achieve the objective, and discusses possible ways for

solving the problems. It is recommended that the research be carried

out in six phases with different specific objectives and time frames

(see Figure 5-1):

Phase 1: Basic Study on Space Stud Welding (2 years)

Phase 2: Development and Laboratory Testing of the First

Generation Space Stud Welding Systems (2 years)

Phase 3: Simulated Zero Gravity Testing of Systems Developed

in Phase 2 (Concurrently with Phase 2)

Phase 4: Development and Laboratory Testing of Integrated Space

Stud Welding Systems (2 years)

Phase 5: Simulated Zero Gravity Testing of Systems Developed

in Phase 4 (Concurrently with Phase 4)

Phase 6: Testing in Space of the Integrated Space Stud

Welding Systems (2 years)

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It IS expected that the entire research program including Phnues 1 through

b Will be completed In eight years. Stated differently, we should he

ready for testing An Space of the integrated space stud welding systems in

4IN years. The period of research could be shortened by (a) accelerated

funding and/or (b) Increased collaboration with manufacturers of stud

welding machlnvH and aerospace cammmn.les.

5..1.1. Phase 1: Basic SCUdy on Space Stud-Weld W6.

The objective of Phase 1 is to conduct a basic study on space stud

welding. Phase 1, which will be completed in two years, will consist

of the following steps:

Step 1-1: Stud welding experiments in a vacuum

Step 1-2: Development of stud materials and optimum welding;

conditions for selected 2000 series aluminum alloys

Step 1-3: Development el :Initial designs of the first generation

Space stud welding systems.

In Step 1-1, a study will be made to determine whether it is possible 

to perform stud welding; In a vacuum. The experiments will be performed

using the pressure chamber presently .Installed at M.I.T. (see Figure C-5

In APPENDIX C for the experimental set-up). experiments will be made on 

several materials including aluminum alloys, high-strength steels,

stainless steels, and titanium alloys. Efforts will also be made to

determine Whether the existence of certain gases or mixture of gases would

facilitate the initiation and maintenance of an are in a vacuum. 

Step 3-2 is to develop suitable stud materials and optimum welding;

conditions for stud welding selected 2000 series aluminum alloys. Close

contacts will be made with representatives from NASA in selecting; the

materials and stud sizes to be Investigated. Our choices at present are:

(a) Materials: 2219 (primary) and 2014 (secondary)

(b) Stud size: 6.4 tam (114 in) diameter as the primary candidate.

I
415

Step 1-1 In to develop initial designs of the first generation space

stud welding systems, the hardware of which will be constructed in

p hase 2. Results which will lee Obtained in SLep 1-1 should ho helpful

All detetmaining, whether ,once devices are needed to W il.itate the initiation

and maintenance of an our In It vacuum.

Efforts will also be made to develop at least portions of an integrated

welding system using stud welding. Figure 5-2, which In the stone an

Figure C-b of APPENDIX C, In a block diagram of n control process for 11

fully .integrated welding, system. Further detn.ilod discussions of this

figure are presented in APPENDIX C 0'.4.5..11. The basic concept shown

In this figure is npplicable to auy welding process, although the eMP11111s

of the discussion presented here In placed on stud welding, especially

capnelter-discharge stud welding, which to likely to be investigated for

space applications: during enrly stages of development.

In order to develop n reliable welding fabrication system, it As

easenttal to develop an integrated system which covers all important

operations involved in welding fabrication, an discussed In various

parts of this report. Development of an intogt'ated System is espec.inl.ly

Important for welding fabrication In space, where no experienced welding

engineer:: and skilled welders are present. Although development of such

an integrated s y stem for various welding processes can become very

complicated, we strongly believe that stud welding, is simple enough

that n" Integrated system can be developed within the time and cost

anticipated in the proposed research.

Figure 5-2 shows that an .Integrated stud welding system should have

the following, subsystems (in time sequences of from letL to right):

(1) A Subsystem to prepare surface conditions: suitable for

stud welding.

(2) Make sure that the surface Conditions; are adequate, before

commencing welding, if the surface conditions are not

adequate, recondition the surface.

(1) Select appropriate welding conditions:, including welding

current, are voltage, and welding time, for particular

applications (Materials, plate thickness, cLe.).

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(4) Inspect the weld after it is completed. The inspection may be

performed by use of a non-destructive testing method such as the

ultrasonic technique and the acoustic emission technique, or it

may be done by applying some external load to the stud.

We do not expect to develop a completely integrated stud welding

system in Phase 2; however, we should be able to develop in Step 1-3 an

initial design of a system which will incorporate at least some portions of

the system shown in Figure 5-2.

The final product of Phase 1 will include:

(a) Experimental data on stud welding of various materials in a vacuum,

(b) Information on suitable stud materials and optimum welding

conditions for stud welding selected 2000 series aluminum alloys,

(c) Design of an initial hardware system which will be constructed

and tested in Phase 2. The system, which is called the first

generation space stud welding system, will include some portions

of the completely integrated space stud welding system which we

plan to develop during the entire research program.

5.1.2. Phase 2: Development and Laboratory Testing of the First Generation

Space Stud Welding Systems. The objective of Phase 2 is to construct and

perform laboratory tests of the first generation space stud welding systems

which will include some parts of an integrated space stud welding system.

Phase 2, which will be completed in two years, will consist of the following

steps:

Step 2-1: Construction and testing of the first generation hardware

Step 2-2: Improvements of the first generation hardware and further 

tes ting
98

Step 2-3: Development of designs of integrated space stud

welding systems.

The objectives of Step 2-1 will be to construct the first generation

hardware of the space stud welding system based on the design which will

be developed during Step 1-3 and perform laboratory testing of the hardware. During the tests important experimental data useful for future

improvements will be generated, and we will gain experience which will

be invaluable in future development work.

The objectives of Step 2-2 will be to improve the first generation

hardware and conduct further tests using improved systems. We will try

to incorporate increasing number of sybsystems as the research progresses.

At the end of Phase 2, which will be the end of Step 2-3 as well,

designs of an integrated space stud welding system will be developed.

5.1.3. Phase 3: Simulated Zero Gravity Testing of Systems Developed

in Phase 2.

The objective of Phase 3 is to conduct testing of systems which

will be developed in Phase 2 under simulated zero-gravity conditions

obtained in an aircraft during a prescribed flight path. A close

coordination with NASA representatives are needed to make necessary

arrangements for such in-flight experiments. The most logical arrangement

will be to have the 1-1/2 years long Phase 3 start six months after the

initiation of Phase 2, as illustrated in Figure 5-1. It would be very

helpful if flight tests can be made two different times as follows:

(1) The first series of in-flight tests on the first generation

hardware developed in Step 2-1 to be performed around the

end of the first year of Phase 2 or the beginning of the

second year

(2) The second series of in-flight tests on the improved hardware

around the end of the second year of Phase 2.

{ The experimental data and the experience which will be obtained in Phase

3 will be used in the research efforts in later stages.

U -
99

5.1.4. Phase 4: Development and Laboratory Testing of Integrated Space

Stud Welding Systems.

The objective of Phase 4 is to construct and perform laboratory

testing of integrated space stud welding systems. Phase 4, which

will be completed in two years, will consist of the following steps:

Step 4-1: Construction and testing of the first generation

integrated space stud welding system

Step 4-2: Construction and testing of the improved integrated

space stud welding systems.

The objective of Step 4-1 will be to construct the first generation

integrated space stud welding system based upon the design which will be

developed during Step 2-3 and perform laboratory tests on the system.

The objective of Step 4-2 will be to further improve the system

developed in Step 4-1. It is hoped that the final system which will

be developed after the completion of Step 4-2 will be complete enough

to be used, perhaps with minor modifications, for actual uses in space.

5.1.5. Phase 5: Simulated Zero Gravity Testing of Integrated Space Stud

Welding Systems Developed in Phas± 4.

Phase 5 will be similar to Phase 3 except that in-flight testing will

be made on integrated space stud welding systems developed in Phase 4.

Again, the most logical arrangement will be to have a 1-1/2 year long

Phase 5 start six months after the initiation of Phase 4. It would be

most helpful if flight tests can be performed in at least two series.

5.1.6. Phase 6: Testing in Space of the Integrated Space Stud Welding

Systems,

Phase 6 will be to perform testing in space of the integrated space

stud welding systems developed in Phase 4 and tested in Phase 5. The

tests in space may be performed aboard the Space Shuttle or the Space

Station. It would be ideal if an arrangement could be made so that

tests can be made during more than one flight. By using the results
S4

100

}

which will be obtained in the first flight test in space, we may find

it necessary or advisable to make some modifications on the stud welding

systems. Our goals are:

(a) In six Years, to develop integrated space stud welding systems

which will be ready for testing in space, and

(b) in eight years, to improve the systems so that they will be

routinely operational in space.

5.2 Research Program 02: Development of "Instamatic O " GTAW Systems

for Space Applications which can be Operated by an Astronaut with

no Welding Training.

It is recommended that a research program be carried out with the

objective of developing "instamatic Q " GTAW systems, or enclosed welding

boxes which can perform certain prescribed welding jobs by an operator

with no welding training. The research should be started immediately to

cover the first two phases as follows (see Figure 5-3):

Phase 1: Identification of several types of "instamatic ® "

welding systems for space applications and development

of initial designs (1 year)

Phase 2: Construction and laboratory testing of some prototype

models and development of detailed plans for later

phases (2 years)

If the results of the above two phases are positive, the research

program should be continued to cover the following phases (see Figure

5-3) :

Phase 3: Construction and laboratory testing of the first

generation integrated "instamatic e " welding systems

for space applications (2 years)

Phase 4: Simulated zero gravity testing of systems developed

in Phase 3 (Concurrently with Phase 2)

Phase 5: Construction and laboratory testing of integrated

"instamatic s " welding systems for space applications

(2 years)
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Phase 6: Further u:-flight tests of hardware systems developed

in Phase 5 (Concurrently with Phase 5)

Phase 7: Testing in space of integrated "instamatic Q 11 welding

systems (2 years),

Details of Phases 3 through 7 will be greatly affected by the outcome of

Phuses 1 and 2; therefore, discussions on Phases 3 through 7 in this

report are very brief.

5.2.1. Phase 1: Identification of Several Types of "Instamatic m "

Welding Systems for Space Applications and Development of Initial

Designs.

The objectives of Phase 1. of the Research Program 02 are (1) to

identify several types of joints for which "instamatic O " welding systems

can be developed for space application and (2) to develop initial

designs for these systems.

Phase 1 is extremely important for the success of the Research

Program 2, because we must select examples which are simple enough so

that "instamatic e " welding systems can be developed within the time

and research budget available and yet these examples must be. important

for activities using the Space Station. Close coordination among M.I.T.

researchers, representatives from NASA, and people in the space

industry are very important in identifying the examples to be investigated. Attempts also will be made to identify some joints which are

useful for some other research projects included in the Innovative 

Utilization of the Space Station Program.

Discussions on four types of joints which are likely to be

selected are given below. They represent different types of joints

with different levels of complexity required for developing "instamatic®"

welding.

Joint Type No. 1: Fillet Weld. As we envision, the system of

• joining a flat plate to a flat plate by fillet welding, as shown in

Figure 2-3c, will probably be selected as the first choice, because:

K
103

(1) A fillet weld is not only one of basic joint types but

also it is very extensively used, and

(2) M.I.T. researchers have already constructed and tested

a system to be used on earth.

Figure B-2 in APPENDIX B shows the M.I.T. developed system that uses

flux-shielded process for welding steel. The system which will be

developed in Phase 1 for space applications will use GTAW process,

and the primary materials to be investigated will be aluminum alloys.

Joint Type No. 2: Circular Cover Plate: A good candidate for

the second joint type to be studied is a system to lap weld a circular

cover plate over a flat plate, as shown in Figure 2-3e, because:

(1) Attaching a patch by lap welding, as shown in Figure 2-6, is

very useful in many applications.

(2) M.I.T. researchers have already constructed and tested a

system to be used on earth.

Fig:ut: !.-3 shows the M.I.T. developed system that uses GMAW process for

a '.,s,ng steel. The system which will be developed in Phase 1 for space

applications will use GTAW process, and the primary materials to be

investigated will be aluminum alloys.

Joint Type No. 3: Seal Welding along a Minder: • A good candidate

for the third type of joint to be studied is a system to perform seal

welding along a girth joint between two cylinders mechanically fastened,

as shown in Figure 2-6, because:

(1) Girth welding of a pipe is one of basic types of joints

which have extensive applications

(2) Since the original design of the mechanical joint has been

developed at M.I.T., we expect good communications within

M.I.T.

r
104

Joint Type No. 4: Replacing a Section of a Pipe: The fourth joint

type which may be studied is replacing a section of a pipe, as shown in

Figure 2-3f. This joint is considerably more complex than the above

three joint types, since:

(1) The old pipe must be cut first. When the section is cut,

mismatch between the two sections may occur. Therefore, it

may become necessary to hold the two separate portions of

the pipe in place until joining.

(2) There are two girth joints to be welded.

Efforts will be made to identify other types of joints suitable for

developing "instamatic O " welding systems. Designs of these

"instamatic e " welding systems will be developed. Then several

"instamatic ® " welding systems will be selected for further development

in later phases, considering (1) probabilities of successful construction

of necessary hardwares, and (2) potential uses of these systems.

5.2.2. Phase 2: Construction and Laboratory Testing of Some Prototype

Models and Development of Detailed Plans for Later Phases.

The objectives of Phase 2 are (1) to construct and test some prototype models of "instamatic " welding systems based on the designs which

will be developed in Phase l,and (2) to develop detailed plans for phase

phases. Efforts in Phase 2 will include construction and laboratory

testing of some important welding subsystems in order to find out

possibilities and limitations of "instamatic ® " welding systems as

applied to space fabrication. Phase 2, which will be completed in two

years, will consist of the following steps:

Step 2-1: Construction and testing of some prototype models

Step 2-2: Development of detailed designs of some promising

"instamatic® " wclding systems for space applications

Step 2-3: Development of detailed plans for later phases.

The objective of Step 2-1 will be to construct and test some

prototype models based on the initial designs which will be developed

in Phase 1. The emphasis of the study will be placed on welding
105

subsystems to find out whether these systems can successfully weld the

joints for which they are designed. During the tests, important

experimental data useful for future improvements will be generated,

and we will also gain experience invaluable in future development work.

The objective of Step 2-2 will be to develop detailed designs of

sonic promising "instamatie 01i systems for space applications.

By the time Phase 1 and Steps 2-1 and 2-2 of p hase 2 are completed,

we should know whether or not it is indeed appropriate to develop

"instnmatic a^ " welding systems for space applications, and if so,

what types of welding systems should be developed. The objective

of Stop 2-3 will be to develop detailed plans for later phases.

The final product which will be generated after the completion of

Phases 1 and 2 will include the following:

(1) A list of joining tasks in space on which "instamatic CT "

welding systems may be developed.

(2) Initial designs of various "instamatic O " welding systems

for space applications.

(3) Hardwares of some welding subsystems and experimental data.

(4) Detailed designs of some promising "instamatic Q^ " CTAW

systems.

(5) Detailed plans for later phases of Research Program 02.

5.2.3. Phase 3: Construction and Laboratory Testing of the First

Ceneration Integrated "lnstamatic & " Welding Systems for Space

ApRlicntions.

The objectives of Phase 3 will be to construct and test the first

generation "instamatic" " welding systems for space applications,

designs for which will be developed in Phase 2. An integrated welding

system will have various subsystems, sonic of which are as follows:

(
7

106

1. Subsystem for cutting and forming

2. Subsystem for assembly of parts

3. Subsystem for surface cleaning

4. Subsystem for welding with or without closed-loop control

5. Subsystem for weld inspection.

An integrated "instamati.c°l " welding system may or may not contain some

of the above subsystems.

it is envisioned that hardwares which will be developed in Phase 3

will probably not include all of the above subsystems. The hardware

systems will be gradually improved during the two years.

5.2.4 Phase 4: Simulated Zero Gravity Testing of Systems Developed in

Phase 3.

The objective of Phase 4 is to conduct testing of systems which will

be developed in Phase 3 under simulated zero-gravity conditions obtained

in an aircraft during a prescribed flight path.

5.2.5. Phase 5: Construction and Laboratory Testing of Integrated.

"lnstamatic"^ " Welding Systems for Space Applications.

The objectives of Phase 5 will be to further improve the first

generation "instamntic e " welding systems which will be developed in

Phase 3, and to test these systems. At the end of Phase 5, which will

be completed in two years, the systems will be developed enough to be

eventually used in space.

5.2.6. Phase 6: Further In-Plight Tests of Hardware Systems Developed

in Phase 5.

Phase 6 will be similar to Phase 4 except that in-flight testing

will be made on integrated hardware systems which will be developed in

Phase 5.

x

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107

5.2.7. Phase 7: Initial Testing in Space, Either in the Space Shuttle

or in the Space Station.

Phase 7 will be to perform the initial testing of the hardware

systems which will be developed in Phase 5, either in the Space Shuttle

or in the Space Station.

5.3 Research Program 113: Development of Flexible Space Welding Systems

It is recommended that a research program be initiated immediately.

The program's objective will be the development of flexible systems

capable of performing space welding with the necessary guidance and

assistance from a command station.

Based on the results of Research Programs 111 and 112, it will become

possible to perform certain simple welding tasks in space without the

presence of a skilled welder. However, the flexibility of the developed

package welding systems will be minimal since they handle only a certain

welding geometry and configuration. The objective of this program is

to extend our capabilities for general welding fabrication that will

permit welding of a variety of joints with a single unit. Again, this

should optimally be accomplished without having to send a welder or

welding engineer to space. In addition to welding, per se, all other

operations involved in welding fabrication (such as plate cutting and

forming, plate assembly, surface cleaning, and weld inspection) should

be effectively handled by the overall fabrication system. This will

inf;uenLe the design of the proposed welding systems.

The SLlection of the appropriate welding processes for the

proposed systems ""A depend upon the exact task requirements, and

possibly on thr ___ .s of Research Programs #1 and 112. However, at

this point we believe that Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) is the more

likely candidate for the reasons examined in section 2.3.1. of this

report.

Another important issue is the desired amount of flexibility. An

increase in the flexibility of the system will be accompanied by an

increase in the level of complexity. The level of flexibility (complexity)

will be determined by such factors as cost, amount of time invested in

research, and current levels of technology. It should also be noted
that more complex systems will require a higher level of maintenance, as

these systems tend to break down more often.

Detailed research plans for this program cannot be completed at

this point. Therefore, it is recommended that the research effort be

initiated by the following three phases Case Figure 5-4):

Phase 1: Identification of possible welding tasks.

Phase 2: Preliminary feasibility study and determination

of design strategies.

Phase 3: Development of initial designs of flexible welding

systems, and plans for later phases.

5.3.1. Phase 1: Identification of Possible Welding Tasks.

The objective of Phase 1 of the Research Program 113 is to

identify several welding tasks for which flexible welding systems can

and need to be developed for space applications.

Phase 1 is extremely important for the success of the Research

Program 013, because we must select welding tasks which are (a) simple

enough so that the proposed systems can be developed within the time

and budget available, and (b) important for activities using the

Space Station. Close coordination among M.I.T. researchers, representatives from NASA, and people in the space industry are very

important in identifying the examples to be investigated. Attempts

will also be made to identify some welding tasks which will be useful

for other research projects included in the Innovative Utilization of

the Space Station Program.

Discussions on the six types of welding tasks being considered

at present are given below (see Figure 5-5). They represent different

types of welds with different levels of complexity in welding fabrication.

Welding Task No. 1: Joining Two Flat Plates by Butt Welding.

Joining of two flat plates by butt welding, as shown in Figure 5-5a,

is perhaps the most fundamental welding task. Therefore, any flexible

system able to perform useful welding tasks ought to be able to

perform this one task, at least. The task will be simple if joints to

be welded are always the same, that is, if they are of the same material,

same thickness, and same joint preparation. If they are different,
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ORIGINAL PAGE 19

OF POOR QUALITY

II0

C. Joining of pipes

a. Butt welding flat plates b Fabricatin g a T-beam

d Joining of a pipe to a flat plate

d. Joinin g of two semi-spherical f. Joining of two intersecting pipes

shells

FlGa'RP `, Welding tnsks bring considered in Research Program ri

:1 0
111

however, we must find some way to select the right filler metal and right

welding conditions (welding current, arc voltage, arc travel speed) for

each joint condition.

Welding Task No. 2: Fabricating a T-Beam. Fabricating a T-beam

by joining two flat plates by fillet welding, as shown in Figure 5-5b,

is also a basic welding task. T-beams and I-beams are commonly used

as elementary members of many structures. Instead of fabricating these

beams on earth and transporting them to space, it may be more economical

to simply transport the metal pieces and join them in space.

Welding Task No. 3: Joining of Pipes. Joining of pipes, as

shown in Figure 5-5c, is another basic welding task. Joining of pipes

in a fixed dimension, especially in a small diameter, can be performed

by using an "instamatic® " welding system. However, joining of largerdiameter pipes will probably require a more flexible welding system.

It is interesting to note that the welding of pipes in space is

easier than on earth, in at least one respect. In welding pipes on

earth, welding conditions must be changed in order to accommodate the

effect of gravity. Welding processes and welding positions may need

to be changed on earth, whereas no such adjustment is needed in space

welding. Automatic welding machines used in space may thus have simpler

process control devices than those required by similar machines used on

earth.

Welding Task No. 4: Joining of a Pipe to a Flat Plate. The joining

of a pipe to a flat plate, as shown in Figure 5-5d, is another basic 

welding task.

Welding Task No. 5: Joining Two Semispherical Shells. The joining

of two semispherical shells to forma spherical hull, as shown in Figure

5-5e, is another important and difficult fabrication problem. Guiding

the welding torch along the weld line could be done by a properly

designed automated welding system. However, we may have difficulties

in finding ways to securely hold the pieces to be welded during welding,

due to distortion. If joint mismatch is caused during welding due to

thermal stresses, satisfactory welding may not be achieved. If one

could successfully perform this task by use of a developed system,

this would demonstrate that many other complex structures could be
112

fabricated in space with this welding system.

Welding Task No. 6: Joining of Two Intersecting Pipes. The joining

of intersecting pipes, as shown in Figure 5-5f, is very common in the

fabrication of tubular structures and pressure vessels. This task is

again cited to test the limit of the technical capabilities of any

developed welding systems. If this task is accomplished, this would

mean that many more space structures could be fabricated successfully

on site.

5.3.2. Preliminary Feasibility Study and Determination of Design

Strategies.

As was mentioned above, the objective of Research Program #3 is

to develop systems that are flexible enough to weld different joint

geometries. This flexibility is most likely to be achieved by using

a mechanical (robotic) arm for the tool manipulation. As was detailed

in Section 3, the control of the manipulator should be shared between

a computer and a human operator. This operator can be either located on

site (concept of a manned remote work section), or on earth (where other

experts are also readily available). It should be stressed at this point

that the development of such flexible, remotely manipulated welding

systems cannot be accomplished by merely attaching a welding tool on the

end effector of a mechanical manipulator, since welding is far more than

simple path tracking. As was detailed in Section 3, the welding conditions and schedules must be determined (using the expertise of a welding

engineer), the process must be continuously controlled, and the resulting

joint must be inspected. All these steps must be given serious consideration during the design of the proposed systems.

Phase 2 will consist of the following two steps:

Step 2-1: Preliminary feasibility study.

Step 2-2: Determination of design strategies.

The objective of Step 2-1 will be to find answers to questions

such as:

1.

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Can systems with the needed flexibility be developed at

this time?

Y^ F 

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2. If not, what technological advances are necessary in order

to make these flexible systems possible?

3. What will be the trade-offs between flexibility (complexity),

cost, weight, and other factors?

The objective of Step 2-2 is to determine strategies for developing i

these systems which will be able to perform tasks selected in Phase 1,

given the limitations found in Step 2-1. We must therefore find solutions

to a number of questions, some of which are listed below:

1. Should we develop one system capable of performing all of the

welding tasks identified in Phase 1? Or should we develop

several types of systems for families of generic welding

systems, etc.?

2. How do we deal with many operations involved in welding

fabrication, including plate cutting and forming, assembly of

parts to be welded, preweld preparation, welding, and post

weld inspection?

3. Should we use some "instamatic® " welding packages which will

be developed in Research Program #2 as parts of these systems?

4. What should be the relative roles of the human operator and

the machine? (Supervisory controlled system)

5. How should be expertise of earth-based experts be utilized?

5.3.3. Phase 3: Development of Initial Designs of Flexible Welding

Systems and Plans for Later Phases.

Phase 3 will consist of the following steps:

Step 3-1: Development of initial designs of flexible systems.

Step 3-2: Development of plans for later phases.

In Step 3-1, efforts will be made to develop initial designs

of the proposed systems based on the strategies which will be developed

in Step 2-2. Further elaboration of this step is not possible at this

time because it relies on the results of the previous phases.

In Step 3-2, detailed plans of later phases of Research Program #3

will be developed. By the time when Step 3-1 is completed, we should

have definite ideas about the hardware and software requirements, and

about how long it would take to construct and test proposed welding systems.
114

An important outcome of Step 3-2 will be a proposal for Phase 4 and

other later phases.

5,4 Research Program 114: Research on Space Welding Using GMAW, EBW, and

LB14 Processes.

The reason for recommending Research Programs O1, 112, and U3 is that

we think that NASA would be interested in having some welding systems

which can do certain weldin g jobs in space, as soon as possible. The

systems which will be developed in these programs can do certain

welding ,jobs, but there are many other jobs which cannot be successfully

performed or which can be more effectively performed by other processes.

Since space structures are primarily built of light components

made of thin plates and materials with high strength-to-weightratios, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process is a good process to

join these materials. However, when thick plates are used, gas tungsten

arc welding (GRAW) would be more suitable than GTAW.

Electron beam welding (EBW) and laser beam welding (LBW) processes

are also quite attractive for welding in space. In fact, if we think about

joining techniques extensively used in space in a distant future, say

2025 or 2050, EBW and LBW are the more likely candidates.

It is recommended that a systematic research program be established

for developing space welding fabrication technologies using GNAW, EBW,

and LBI4 processes. Before embarking a long-term research program,

however, we recommend that an initial Phase 1 study be conducted for a

period of one year. The best time to cr-iduct Phase 1 study will be

during the second year of the Space Welding Fabrication Research, as

shown in Figure 5-6.

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Phase 1: Initial Study will consist of the following steps:

Step 1-1: Identification of potential uses of GMAW, EBW, and LBW

processes in space.

Step 1-2: Identification of potential proLlems with GMAW, EBW,

and LBW processes and possible solutions.

Step 1-3: Development of plans for future research phases,

The objective Step 1-1 will be to identify potential uses of GMAW,

EBW, and LBW processes in space.

The objectives of Step 1-2 will be (1) to identify potential problems

with GMAW, EBW, and LBW processes when they are used for space fabrication

and (2) to suggest solutions, if possible. Examples of potential problems

are:

(a) Accurate Joint fit-up. EBW and LBW processes require accurate

joint fit-up. How can we achieve the accurate joint fit-up

in space?

(b) Safety problems. How to protect astronauts from X-rays

emitted by the EBW equipment? How to protect an astronaut

from laser beam?

(c) Maintenance Problems. Are there any problems with maintenance

of EBW and LBW equipment?

These and many other issues will be examined in Step 1-2.

In Step 1-3, plans for future research phases will be developed.

The final product of Phase 1 will include:

(1) Information on potential uses of GMAW, EBW, and LBW processes

in space fabrication.

(2) Discussions on potential problems with these processes when

they are used in space and possible solutions.

(3) Plans for future research phases.

aMM,,
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117 

5.5 Research Program 115: Research on Special Joining Techniques Suited

for Space Applications

Today there are almost 100 welding and allied prucesses, as shown

in Figure 2-1, which are used for various applications on earth. Some

of these processes and perhaps others will be uniquely suited for some

applications under space environments. For example, joining by solar

energy may be a good idea in space. During the Skylab experiments,

feasibility of using exothermic brazing for joining tubes was studied.

An attractive feature of the exothermic process is that it requires no

additional energy to perform joining, except a small amount of energy

to activate the exothermic reaction. Some investigators have already

studied possible uses in space of several processes including cold

welding, diffusion bonding, and explosive welding, as discussed in

both 2.1.1 and 2.1.2. There may be other joining processes which are

suited for uses in space.

It is recommended that a research program be carried out to identify

joining processes which are suited for uses in space and their possible

applications. It is estimated that this initial Phase 1 research will

be completed in one year, perhaps during the fourth year of the Space

Welding Fabrication Research, as shown in Figure 5-6. If we find some

processes which have good prospects, further research may be recommended.

5.6 Research Program., 116: Development of Integrated Fabrication Systems

for Certain Complex Space Structures.

There are basically two approaches in developing technologies of

fabricating structures. One is to think about welding processes first

and then develop the technologies of using these processes. This

approach has been taken in planning Researc5 Programs 111 through 115.

The other approach is to think in the reversed direction, that is to

think about structures first and develop fabrication techniques most

suitable for the structures being considered. This second approach can

be useful in fabricating some structures, since
118

(1) Already many joining processes have been developed and used on

earth

(2) Differences in joining mechanisms on land and in space are

relatively minor.

This second approach can be very effective if welding systems are

incorporated as parts of an integrated fabrication system. In such a

case welding systems may be completely automated.

It is recommended that a research program be carried out to look at

welding problems from the viewpoint of the structures being fabricated. We

recommend an initial Phase 1 research, which will be composed of the

following steps:

Step 1-1: Identification step

Step 1-2: Development of suggested future plans.

The objective of Step 1-1 will be to identify space structures being

planned, to which introductions of new concepts in welding may make

significant effects. For example, fabrication cost may be significantly

reduced by introducing new ideas on welding fabrication. In some cases,

proper uses of welding technologies may be essential for fabricating

certain structures beyond certain lengths or sizes. After these

structures are identified, efforts will be made to develop new fabrication

methods useful for these structures.

The objective of Step 1-2 will be to develop future plans of

further research and development work.

It is estimated that Phase 1 will be completed in one year, perhaps

during the third year of the Space Welding Fabrication Research, as

shown in Figure 5-6.
^f

119

6. REFERENCES

(1) Welding Handbook, Seventh Edition, American Welding Society,

1976-present.

(2) Handbook of Soviet Alloy Compositions, MCIC-HB-05, Metals and

Ceramics Information Center, Battelle Columbus Laboratories,

February 1975.

(3) Masubuchi, K., is of Welded - Residual Stresses

Distortion anc uences ress, 1980.

(4) Masubuchi, K., "Integration of NASA Sponsored Studies on

Aluminum Welding", NASA Contractor Report NASA CR-2064, National

Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C., 1972,

for sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield,

Virginia 22151.

(5) Masubuchi, K., "Development of Joining and Cutting Techniques for

Deep-Sea Applications", Report MITSG 81-2, M.I.T. Sea Grant

College Program, M.I.T., June 1981.

(6) Masubuchi, K., Schloerb, D.W., and Gustin, H.L., "Development of

Fully Automated and Integrated ("Instamatic® ") Welding Systems

for Marine Applications", OTC 4601, Offshore Technology Conference,

Houston, Texas, May 1983.

(7) "Underwater Welding and Cutting by Remote Manipulation Techniques",

a three year research program from Jul, 1, 1982 performed at M.I.T.

for the Office of Sea Grant, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, Department of Commerce, M.I.T. O.S.P. # 92386.

(8) Blackmon, D.R., and Kearney, F.W., "A Real Time Approach to

Quality Control in Welding", The Welding Journal, Vol. 62, No. 8,

1983, pp. 37-39.

(9) Hardt, D.E., Masubuchi, K., Paynter, H.M., and Unkel, W.C.,

"Improvement of Reliability of Welding by In-Process Sensing and

Control (Development of Smart Welding Machines for Girth Welding

of Pipes", Final Report under Contract No. DOE-ER-10474 from

M.I.T. to the Department of Energy, April 1983.

(10) "Improvement of Fusion Welding through Modeling, Measurement,

and Real-time Control", a three-year research program from June,

1983 under Contract No. DE-ACO2-83ER1308 at M.I.T. for the

Department of Energy.

(11) "Welding and Joining - A Compilation", NASA SP-5978 (03), Technical

Utilization, National Aeronautics and Space Administration,

Washington, D.C., July 1975.

j 
120

(12) Akin, D.L., Bowden, M.D., "Interim Report on the January 1980 N.I.T.

Tests at the Marshall Neutral Buoyancy Facility". Under Grant

NAGW-21 to N.I.T., Cambridge, MA, SSS 115-80.

(13) Doolirg, D., "Super Skylab". Spaceflight, V. 19, No. 7/8, July/

Aug. 1977, p. 269-270.

(14) Woods, Jr., A.A., "Offset Wrap Rih Antenna Concept Development".

Langley Research Center Large Space Systems Technology, 1980,

p. 295-323.

(15) Whiffen, E.L., Korb, L.J., and Ulkksiak, C.E., "Welding of the

Space Shuttle Orbiter Crew Module", The Welding Journal, Vol. 59,

No. 9, September 1980, pp. 17-24.

(16) Masubuchi, K., "Integration of NASA Sponsored Studies on Aluminum

Welding", NASA Contractor Report. NASA CR-2064, National Aeronautics

and Space Administration, Washington, D.C., 1972.

(17) Paul, R.P., "Robot Manipulators, Mathematics Programming and

Control", MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1981.

(18) Brady, M., et al., "Robot Motion, Planning and Control", MIT

Press, Cambridge, MA, 1983.

(19) Ballard, D.H. and Brown, C.M., "Computer Vision", Prentice Hall,

Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1982.

(20) Agapakis, J., "A Study on Remote Robotic Welding and Expert

Welding Systems", Ph.D. Thesis under preparation, M.I.T.

(21) Sheridan, T.B., "Supervisory Control: Problems Theory and

Experiment for Application to Human - Computer Interaction in

Undersea Remote Systems", Man Machine System Lab Report to O.N.R.

under contract 1/ N00014-77-C-0256, M.I.T., Department of Mechanical

Engineering, March 1982.

(22) Sheridan, T.S. and Ferrell, W.R., "Man-Machine Systems: Information,

Control and Decision Models of Human Performance, M.I.I'. Press,

Cambridge, MA, 1974.

(23) Yoerger, D., "Supervisory Control of Underwater Telemanipulators:

Design and Experiment", Ph.D. Thesis, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering,

M.I.T., September 1982.
APPENDIX A

'IS OF THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND

'ACE WELDING EXPERIMENTS
A 1

A.1. INTRODUCTION

This appendix is written in three parts, The first part discusses the

differences between the environment on Earth and in space, and how these

differences may affect the various welding processes. Experiments pertaining to welding that were performed aboard Soyuz 6 and Skylab are then

reviewed. Included at the end is an annotated bibliography on space welding

and related subjects.

A.t Environment of Space

Before reviewing the studie;i done on welding in space, it is beneficial

to examine the differences between the space and the terrestrial environments, and see how these differences might affect welding and its related

phenomena. For example, the nature, magnitude and direction of physical

forces control the liquid dynamics of the molten metals, which in turn

affect melting and solidification of the metals. Since these forces

differ in space and on Earth, we expect the weld pool to behave differently,

so melting and solidification should differ also. By understanding the

predominant forces out in space, insight into the potential benefits and

problems associated with welding in space can be obtained.

In space, the differing conditions that may substantially affect the

processes taking place during welding are:

- Weightlessness

- High Vacuum

- Drastic Temperature Changes

Of these factors, the long exposure to a virtually zero-gravity environment

is a truly unique situation that cannot be duplicated or even approximated

for any length of time on Earth. In the low Earth orbit (LEO) of the Space

Shuttle and planned space station, the gravitational acceleration is

approximately 

1074 

g (ge

= gravitational acceleration on Earth's surface =

9.8 m/sec t ). This extremely low gravity condition is termed microgravity.

R'
A 2

In welding, the effect of gravity is most important in determining the

properties of the solidified material. Although gravity has no direct

effect on grain structure or other microstructural properties (these are

determined by crystallization kinetics, which in turn are controlled by

short range inter-molecular forces), it can, however, indirectly affect

solidification through its effect on fluid motion. On Earth, the major

indirect effects of gravity on solidification are: (74041

Sedimentation and buoyancy

Buoyancy induced convection

Hydrostatic pressure

In LEO under microgravity, it can be assumed that these indirect

effects of gravity can be neglected. With no sedimentation, the result of

welding will most likely be a more uniform composition of the solidified

metal with a more uniform grain size. However, separations provided by

buoyancy such as the removal of unwanted gas bubbles will not occur, so

the potential for voids and porosity in space welded specimens is higher

than that of similar welds made on Earth.

I.. terrestrial process, gravity is also the primary driving force for

the convection of contained fluids subjected to thermal or concentration

gradients. This fluid motion could alter solidification rate and the

final grain structure. The elimination of gravity-driven convection may

have the effect. of substantially reducing or possibly eliminating macroand micro-segregation from the solidified welds. [74061 Also, microstructure

and weld pool shape are affected by fluid flow, so these can be expected

to be different in space.

This is not to say that in the absence of gravity there will be no

fluid flow. Possible physical forces that could induce flow while welding

in space are: [74041

- Lorentz Force - Electromagnetic forces induced by passage of

current through specimen.

- Electrostriction - Stresses induced when electrical permittivity

changes with density.

y
A 3

- Magnetastriction - Stresses induced when permeability changes

with density. t

- Electrostatic Force - Caused by presence of excess electrical

charge. 

- Surface Tension - Tangential etresses at vapor-liquid or liquidliquid interfaces can be induced if aurface tension depends on

temperature and/or concentration. Surface tersiov will also

cause pressure gradients across curved interfaces.

- Density differences accompanying phase changes.

- Beam Force - Impinging electrons give up their momentum.

- Thermal Expansion - Dilation and compression of fluids whose

density changes appreciably with temperature can induce fluid flow.

While these forces also exist in a gravitational field, gravity induced

convection is dominant so the effect of these ether forces are masked. A

dimensional analysis of the equations governing fluid flow reveals that

surface tension forces are most likely the driving force for fluid flow

in the absence of gravity.

In the absence of hydrostatic pressure, the molten metal will not

deform under its own weight. Thus, the liquid drop will take a shape that

tends to minimize surface energy. Because of this, the weld bead shape

will be determined solely by surface tension. Also, wetting and spreading

characteristics will differ under microgravity.

The lack of gravity will also affect the rate of metal transfer in

certain welding processes. In consumable electrode arc welding, especially

in the down-hand position, gravity plays an important role in drop

detachment from the electrode. However, in the absence of gravity, the

drop must be detached by the electromagnetic pinch effect. As a result,

the drop will be larger and will remain on the electrode longer, unless

the pinch effect is increased by increasing the current. Alternatively, a

short-circuit type transfer may be used.

i
A4

F_ 

Although the high vacuum of infinite pumping power is as prevalent

a space condition as microgravity, its potential to vary the welding

process is not as severe, High vacuums can be created on Earth, so

experiments to determine the proper welding parameters for different

welding processes performed in vacuum can be designed. Also, there are

welding techniques that require a vacuum (i.e., electron beam welding),

so this condition in space will not affect their performance in any way.

The ultrahigh vacuum could prove beneficial for cold welding. It is

Vt

known that the strength of cold welded bonds increases as the vacuum in

r

which the weld is made increases. Also, the absence of gaseous particles

will prevent oxides from forming on the bonding surfaces, which also results

in a stronger bond. The only disadvantages to this method are that it

? requires careful edge preparation and fit-up, as well as large specific

pressures.

The absence of gaseous particles will be detrimental when trying to

perform any welding with an arc. A flow of electrons is necessary to maintain an arc, and usually the electrons are supplied by a shielding gas or the

atmosphere itself. While it is possible to obtain the needed electrons

from the electrode itself (thermionic emission), this requires more power

and usually results in a less stable arc.

The vacuum of space, along with the extreme temperature conditions,

will greatly affect the cooling rate of the weld, and this will be an

important factor in determining the microstructure and other physical 

properties of the finished weld. Because there is no atmosphere to

protect structures from direct sunlight, they may become extremely hot,

which will slow down their cooling rate. On the other hand, if a structure

remains in the shadow of the Earth or another orbiting structure, it has

the potential to get very cold.

The lack of an atmosphere also eliminates convection as a means of 

cooling down the weld. This must be accomplished by conduction to cooler

parts of the weldment and by radiation losses. This means a much 

different cooling rate than on Earth.

e
As

It: should be emphasized that most of these environmental differences

need only be taken into consideration if the welding is actually done

outside the spacecraft. In the Space Shuttle, for example, there is an

atmosphere and the temperature is controlled. Thus, if welding was to

be done inside the Shuttle, the effect of the vacuum of space and of the

drastic temperature conditions would be of no consequence. When welding

is done inside a spacecraft with atmospheric and temperature controls,

the basic difference from terrestrial processes is the lack of gravity.

A.3 Space Welding Experiments

The majority of space welding experiments have been carried out by

the United States and the USSR. The experiments were performed in

specially designed apparatus based on-board a plane, flown through a

Keplerian trajectory to achieve dynamic weightlessness. Also,welding was

performed aboard orbiting laboratories. It should be pointed out that

both the USSR and United States experiments were designed to study the

feasibility of different welding techniques in space. No specific

welding task was evaluated.

A. 3.1. USSR Experiments. The orbiting USSR space welding experiments

were performed aboard Soyuz 6 in October 1969. The welding processes

examined were:

- Electron Seam Welding (ESW)

- Plasma-Arc Welding

- Consumable Electrode-Arc Welding

Reasons given for examining these processes we re reliability, versatility

in application, and ease of automation. In addition to these welding

processes, resistance spot welding was also examined in a condition of

dynamic weightlessness. Metals investigated were:

Compiled from [7102], [7201], [7410], [9001].
A6

- 1X18H9T Stainless Steel (equivalent to AISI 321 Stainless Steel)

- M1-6 Aluminum Alloy (a 2000 series Al alloy)

- BT-1 Titanium Alloy (U.S. equivalent A-55 Titanium)

The Russians also discussed the possibility of testing methods that

required no metal melting, such as:

- Diffusion Bonding

- Cold Welding

- Explosive Welding

Because no metal is melted, these processes would not be affected by the

lack of gravity. In addition, these must be done in a vacuum. However,

since these methods require careful edge preparation and fit up, as well

as large specific pressures, they were deemed not suitable for space.

Also, friction welding was dismissed due to its limited range of applications and considerable power capacity required.

The results of the Russian experiments are discussed below:

Electron Beam: Welding and cutting of the various metals was performed at a constant beam power of 1 kw, beam current of 70 ma, and

welding (cutting) speed of 30 m/hr. Film taken of the welding and cutting

showed that the processes are stable, and the necessary conditions for

normal welded joint formation are provided. No differences as compared to

similar operations under conventional conditions on Earth were observed.

In the welded samples, both terrestrial and space specimens had

similar weld shape and degree of penetration. However, the aluminum

alloy showed more porosity when welded in the weightless condition. A

possible explanation is that the gas bubbles have difficulty in getting

free of the liquid weld pool. 

The cutting of the metals was also achieved using EB. Although the

metal beadings of the cut samples differed slightly in location when

compared to samples EB cut on Earth, the results were similar.

The completed tests showed that it is possible to obtain sound

{ welded joints of various metals and alloys with EB welding. EB cutting

I

l also performed with little change compared to routine conditions on Earth.

t

r.
A7

Plasma-Arc: For these experiments, a non-cooled torch was used. The

cathode was designed for fixing to a vacuum inlet, and also to isolate a

cathode region of arc discharge from tht evacuated volume. The arc

discharge was performed in an argon atmosphere. Other special equipment

was used to excite the arc discharge when the experiment was performed in

a vacuum. Arc power was obtained from a storage battery. The welding

parameters were arc current 43-50 amps, voltage 26-27 volts, and nominal

arc length 5 mm. The welding chamber could be open to space through a

hatch.

The tests indicated that the amount of vacuum substantially affects

the character of arc ignition, arc stability, and focus of the anode spot.

When vented into space, the high-speed gas evacuation through the hatch

makes the process of arc constriction difficult.

The plasma-arc process was tested on thin specimens, and since the

dimensions of the weld pool in this case are small, the effect of gravity

is not great. In both terrestrial and space samples, the weld formation

is determined mainly by the forces of surface tension. As such, visual

observation shows no Difference between the two.

Examination of the welded specimens showed no porosity in the stainless

steel sample. In the titanium alloy, porosity was observed, mainly along

the fusion line. In general, though, sound welded joints were obtained

using this process.

Consumable Electrode Arc Welding: The experiments on consumable 

electrode arc welding were performed in a controlled atmosphere chamber 

and in a vacuum chamber. Changes of arc current were made by varying the 

wire feed speed, and the arc voltage was adjusted by changing the opencircuit voltage of a storage battery. In all cases, the arc power did not

exceed 1 kw. The metal samples were all 1 mm thick.

The biggest difference noted between the Earth and space welded samples

were in metal melting and transfer. After arc ignition, a drop of liquid

metal forms at the electrode tip. Drop size is basically determined by

the relationship of surface tension, electromagnetic force, and length of
A g

arc gap. As stated before, in the absence of gravity, it is the electromagnetic pinch effect that detaches the molten drop from the electrode.

At low current values the drop grew to a very large size, sometimes

exceeding the electrode diameter. Random impulses were used to bring

the drop into contact with the workpiece, which resulted in a sharp

increase in current value and electromagnetic force, causing the drop to

detach. When the random impulses were absent, the drop remained at the

electrode tip for a long period of time, sometimes more than three

seconds.

As the drop grew, the current density decreased in the active spot of

the electrode and stability of the arc discharge was reduced. The arc

spots were disorderly, moving along the surface of the drop and pool. The

depth of base metal penetration decreased, and weld penetration got worse.

An increase of the electrode feed speed increased the current value,

resulting in a reduced arc gap. Thus, the free growth of the drop became

difficult, and drop size was reduced. Increasing the welding current from

50 to 70 amps, when welding stainless steel, resulted in an increase of

drop frequency from 15 to 33 drops/sec.

In the absence of gravity, the surface tension forces drew the melted

metal together, away from the weld edges. This caused the weld to bulge

slightly in the center. Although the shape of the bead remained satisfactory, the depth of penetration was somewhat reduced.

In consumable electrode arc welding in a vacuum, the kinetics of gas

liberation off the welding pool change, and a necessity for stabilization

of the arc discharge arises. These studies on the arc process also showed

that, in spite of an increase in diffusion of neutral and charged particles

out of the arc gap and an increase of speed of deionization of the arc

discharge plasma, it IF posrible to obtain long-term, stable arc discharge in the vapor of electrode material.
A9

Soot Weldin&: Experiments with spot welding were performed only on

board a plane flying a planned trajectory. The tongs for the spot welder

were made with a built -in 1 kw transformer weighing only 1.5 kg. Space

conditions did not seem to affect the spot welding process.

A.3.3. United States Experiments Welding experiments in space were

carried out by the United States aboard Skylab in 1973. Of the 18

experiments devoted to materials science and manufacturing processes, 3

experiments were related to welding in space. These were:

- M551 Metals Melting

- M552 Exothermic Brazing

- M553 Sphere Forming

M551, Metals Melting Experiment: This experiment used an EB to study

cutting and welding in space. The experimental procedure is described

briefly as follows:

Three sample disks, each compused of a test metal of varying

thicknesses, were rotated automatically at a speed of 2.5 rpm

under an EB gun such tha,; an EB weld seam was produced in the

metal specimen at a radius of 6 cm. During the continuous weld

portion of each disk, both full and partial penetration of the

disk was achieved by having a constant power input but varying

the disk thickness. For each disk, the continuous weld was

followed by a dwell portion. In the dwell portion of the weld,

the disk remained stationary while the EB impinged on a thick

section of the disk, thus creating a large molten pool. The EB

was then shut off, and the pool allowed to solidify.

The EB operated at 20 kV and 50-80 ma. The vacuum was created by venting

the experimental chamber directly into space. The three metals investigated were:

*Compiled from [7304), [7412), (7404], [7702], (7710]
A 10

- 304L Stainless Steel

- 2214-T87 Aluminum Alloy

- Commercially Pure Tantalum

Flights made in an Air Force KC-135 aircraft flying ballistic trajectories to achieve low gravity were made with the apparatus mounted and

specimens installed to simulate operations in Skylab. However, the low

gravity was achieved for only 15-25 seconds at a time, not enough time to

complete a cycle of melting and solidifying. Hence, no useful metallographic studies of low gravity solidification were obtained from this phase

of the study. Samples similar to the Skylab specimens were processed

exactly the same way on Earth for comparison.

The gravity effects appear to be small in weld nugget configuration

and puddle control of all three materials. In all cases there was greater

puddle sagging in the groundbase specimen when compared to the Skylab

specimen. Frequency of surface ripple, beading, and weld spatter appeared

to be somewhat related to gravity. All of these were slightly reduced in

the Skylab specimens.

When examining the microstructures of the Earth and Skylab specimens,

the groundbased melts showed the familiar large grains often seen in

weldments, with columnar grain growth oriented perpendicular to the

solidification front. It also shows heavy banding, the fine, equiax-grained

chill zone, and the grain growth of the unmelted HAZ.

By contrast, the Skylab specimens show a major reduction in large,

elongated grains; an increa p ed width of the finer-grained chill zone and

almost no banding. This can be explained by a reduction in thermal

convection (as predicted) which is accompanied by a greater temperature

differential at the solidifying interface. In addition, the reduced

convection would provide less mixing and greater constitutional super

cooling which would produce nucleation of many more but smaller grains of

varying composition. Instability of the freezing interface results in

sub-grain micro-segregation which breaks up the banding.
A11

Basically, the experiments indicate that molten metal surface tension

is the predominant force controlling the weld puddle. In low gravity,

the welds are more symmetrical. No difference was detected in the microhardness of the Earth and Skylab samples. Hence, the feasibility of

cutting and welding in space using EB was demonstrated.

M552, Exothermic Brazing Experiment: The procedure for M552 is as

follows:

A cylindrical sleeve with machined grooves for preplaced braze

alloy was positioned concentric with a 19.1 mm inner tube. The

sleeve was surrounded by an electrically fired exothermic

material which heated the sample to brazing temperatures, where

the preplaced braze alloy melted and flowed into the narrow gap

between the tube and sleeve. The experiment was performed in

a vacuum chamber.

Four specimens were used, each specimen possessing n different clearance

gap between the tube and sleeve. Two of the four specimens contained pure

nickel tubes and sleeves. The other two tubes and sleeves were type 304L

stainless steel with the tube partially slit through the center cross

section to simulac+r a butt ,joint. Sample identification material and gap

clearances between the sleeves and tubes are listed in Table A-1.

Table A-1 M552 Brazing specimen specifications

Material Cap Dimensions Identification

304L 0.13 mm (0.005 in.) SLS1

Ni 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) SLN2

304L 0.50 mm (0.020 in.) SLS3

Ni 0-0.75 mm (0-0.030 in) SLN4

The braze alloy for all specimens was composed of 71.8 wt. % silver,

28.0 wt. % copper, and 0.2 wt. % lithium. The alloy's melting temperature

was 760°C (1410°F).
A 12

Many specimens of flight configuration were brazed at Marshall Space

Flight Center prior to the flight experiment. These specimens were brazed

under conditions simulating the Skylab experiment, except for gravity.

These brazed specimens served as references for comparison with the specimens brazed during the Skylab flight.

SLS-1 exhibited a near perfect braze joint, except for one minor

shrinkage defect adjacent to a ring groove. The braze alloy had completely spread to the outermost ends of the sleeve. In contrast, the groundbased samples all exhibited voids adjacent to ring grooves and a much

higher frequency of small defects throughout the solidified braze zone.

It should be noted that a 0.13 mm gap exceeds normal design specifications

for braze joints in 1-g applications. Normal design clearance in 1-g is

approximately 0.05 mm (0.002 in.).

SLN-2 was very similar to the groundbased equivalent. In these

specimens, the gap volume is about equal to the volume of braze alloy.

Both specimens retained some braze metal in the ring groove. This would

indicate equalizing forces between the ring groove to retain the molten

metal and the gap zone to draw the metal into it. Both Skylab and ground

samples exhibited void areas in the braze gap zone.

The SLS-3 specimen was designed to represent a starved braze joint,

possessing only about 50% enough alloy to fill the gap. In the ground

sample all the braze metal pooled at the bottom section and gravity forces

had completely drained the ring grooves. In the Skylab sample, a small

quantity of braze alloy was retained as fillets in both ring grooves and

most braze alloy had bridged the gap between the tube and sleeve. This

contrast is due to the absence of gravity in the Skylab sample, where

surface energy is the dominant force. Hind adequate braze alloy been

present, the 0.50 mm gap most likely would have completely filled.

The braze quality of SLN-4 was very good and much better than any

ground based sample. Nearly all the braze alloy was drawn from the ring

groove at the narrow end of the gap. In both specimens, braze alloy was
A 13

F retained In the ring groove adjacent to the wide gap end. Radioactive

tracing on the Skylab sample indicate alloy spreading the full length of t

`r the sleeve.

In general, all the Skylab samples had braze gaps filled to at least

the same extent as the ground samples. The absence of gravity greatly

extends the scope of brazing, and, thereby, the applicability of brazing

to fabrication in space. In zero gravity, the surface tension forces

driving capillary flow predominate, while on Garth these forces must

contPlotL with gravity. Study of braze alloy distribution in Skylab specimens clearly indicates that dimensional tolerances, especially braze gap

clearances, are fat• less critical to joining operations in space.

1 , 1553, Sphere Forming Experiment: 1 , 1553 was performed in the same

facilit y as 1, 1551 and 1, 1552. The procedure was as follows:

Twenty-eight 6.35 min diameter spherical specimens were cast using

the electron beam gun as a heat source. The specimens were

initially supported on two wheels by a string. After melting was

completed, the spheres were separated from their strings and

allowed to solidify while free-floating in the vacuum chamber.

The metals studied were:

- Pure Ni

- Ni with 1 wt "Z. Al;

- NS with 1: wt R, S»

- Ni with 30 wt Cu

For ground based samples, the sphericity value (R max /lt min ) was

typically around 1.28. For Skylab samples the value was between 1.01 to

1.04, a substantial enhancement due to the reduction in gravity. However,

surface morphology of both terrestrial and flight samples were similar.

One interesting feature was the formation of internal voids during

the Skylab processing of the Ni-Ag and Ni-Sn samples. Due to the low

-5

pressure (10 mm llg) and microgravicy, metallic gas evolution probably
A 14

occurred as a phase reaction within both systems on cooling. This reduced

pressure reaction is suppressed within the ground based samples due to

the hydrostatic pressure head within the liquid itself.

( In conclusion, this experiment confirmed the ability to form near

perfect spheres from liquid melts free-floating in zero gravity. The

i

"

I

reason a sphericity value of 1.00 was not achieved was probably due to

1 insufficient internal damping of the molten metals. Either the EB itself

v

or the release of the molten drop can cause vibrations in the melt, and

the drops solidify before these vibrations can be completely dampened.

` A. 3.3. Analysis of Space Welding Experimental Results. From experiments performed in space by the USSR and the United States, it is obvious

G

i that welding is a viable technique for metal joining in space. It is

interesting to note that both countries examined the use of electron beams

fr to cut and weld. There are a number of factors responsible for the

considerable interest shown this process:[7102]

- The high (up to 80%) efficiency of the transformation of

electric power into thermal power for heating and melting

metal.

- The high energy density of a focused EB. This means that

for the same thickness of metal less power is required for

welding than with other heat sources.

- EB welds have small heat affected zones, with a high depth

to width ratio, leading to good physical and mechanical

properties.

- EB is the most successful method of treating metals in a

vacuum so far discovered.

- With EB, there are practically no reactive forces.

However, for welding in space an EB apparatus must be safe, highly

reliable, maneuverable, and must weigh as little as possible. Also, a

high degree of accuracy in need for joint fit-up. Because of these

restrictions, the days when EB welding will be done routinely in space
A 15

seem a long way off. Although this method has great promise in the long

range outlook, the first practical uses of welding in space will most

probably be done by other means.

In regards to the arc processes experimented with in Soyuz 6, these

seem to have limited applicability. These processes will most likely

find use in small repair and construction jobs performed inside spacecrafts,

due to the availability of an atmosphere there. The Russian experiments

indicate that although an arc can be maintained in a vacuum, these arcs

are not very stable. Such an unreliable process cannot be expected to

be used in structure construction that must be performed in space.

This is not to say that the use of these are processes in space are

not important. In a space station or other structure that is expected

to remain in orbit for a long time, it is inevitable that some minor repair

will be needed. Also, the construction of a small experimental apparatus

or similar device may be needed. As these arc processes are well

developed on Earth, and experimentation shows that the mi.crogravitational

effects can be dealt with, it is not unrealistic to visualize an "emergency

welding kit" which utilizes an arc process.

As far as brazing goes, the experiments performed indicate that this

is a very good technique for use in space. Although its applications seem

limited, it has the advantage over welding in its minimal energy requirements and the ability to finalize the entire set-up on the ground. Also,

the fit-up requirements are not as strict.

Overall, it is clear that no one welding process will be adequate to

perform all the possible welding tasks in space. As different specific

tasks are identified, the selection of the proper joining technique can be

made. This selection must include ability of the process to perform the

task, research and development needed to adapt the process to the space

environment, and amount of training the person actually performing the

welding will need.
A 16

A.4 Annotated Bibliography on Space Welding. and Related Subjects

This is an annotated bibliography on space welding and related subjects.

Experiments performed in space or in conditions simulating a space

environment, along with papers describing the influence of space conditions

on various welding phenomena and processes are presented. Related subjects

include possible equipment to perform welding in space and construction in

space using welding. The use of robots and other remote control devices

to perform welding in space are also listed.

This bibliography was compiled by performing a computer literature

search using the following data bases:

- NASA

- NTIS

- Compendex

- WeldaSearch

Descriptive words used included:

- Space welding

- Space Fabrication

- Space Manufacturing

- Space Environment

- Remote Manipulation in Space

This initial search resulted in hundreds of articles relating to the

descriptives mentioned above. The information contained in the literature

search was then screened by a few individuals to see which articles were

actually related to the study at hand. These selected articles were then

compared to each other to check for duplicity. The remaining articles,

along with others found by alternative means during the preparation of this

report, comprise the annotated bibliography.

References have been designated by a four-digit number. The first

two digits of the number indicate the year of publication. The remaining
A 17

digits are assigned consecutively to all items within a year. This system

of numbering makes it easy to expand the bibliography without changing

numbers. Any new reference is merely assigned the next available number

within its year of publications.
A 18

1966

6601 Lawrence, G. S., Schollhammer, F. R., "Hand Held Electron Beam

Gun and External Power Supply". Report under contract NAS9-4501

to Hamilton Standard Div., United Aircraft Corporation, Windsor

Locks, CT.

The design, development, and evaluation of an operable, prototype

hand-held electron gun capable of joining space-age materials in

a high vacuum environment are described. The electron optics and

power (Watts) required to weld typical aerospace materials of

representative thickness are defined on the basis of a study

which indicated that most in-space fabrication tasks would involve joining predominantly stainless steel, aluminum or titanium

alloys of approximately 0.75 inch thickness. A detailed description is given of the systematic development tests and the results

obtained for each major component prior to its integration into

the complete gun assembly. Weld penetration capabilities of the

prototype gun are given for various typical aerospace materials.

For all materials investigated, the simulated in-space electron

beam welds exhibit greater depth-to-width ratios and smaller

grain sizes than those obtained in conventional fusion welding of

similar specimens. The reliability and safety of the hand-held

device are demonstrated in the results of man-rated space chamber

tests which completed the evaluation.
A 19

1967

6701 Schollhammer, F. R., "Status of Electron Beam Welding for InSpace Applications". Record of IEE 9th Annual Symposium on

Electron, Ion, and Laser Beam Technology, Berkeley, CA,

May 9-11, 1967, p. 215-238.

Description of some operational considerations for in-space

welding and subsequent equipment development. Results achieved

at Hamilton Standard for gravity-free and atmosphere-free welding

of thin materials are given.
A 20

1968

6801 Schwarz, H., "Present Knowledge of Fundamental Processes of

Electron Beams as Material Working Tools". Electron and Ion Beam

Set and Technology, 3rd International Conference, Boston, MA,

May 5-8, 1968, p. 301-317.

A critical survey of recent studies in thermal electron beam

processes is given. Emphasis is on experimental results and

interpretation with attempt to clarify basic processes of socalled "deep penetration effect". Cutting and welding in a

non-vacuum environment are discussed, along with electron beam

welding in outer space and special problems associated with

non-gravitational conditions.

6802 Kohn, M. L., "Materials Joining Tool". Under contract

F33615 - 67-C-1424 to Hamilton Standard, Windsor Locks, CT .

The use of nonthermionic cathodes was investigated as a heatenergy source for welding in space. This program included the

design, manufacture, and performance of welding tests on two

tools. One tool, using an annular cathode, was designed to weld

tubing up to 3/8-inch outside diameter and wires and rods as

large as 1 / 3-inch diameter.. The second tool, with a linear

cathode, was designed to produce linear welds of variable length.

The tools were built and tested.

6803 Blackmer, R. H., "Remote Manipulators and Mass Transfer Study".

Under contract F33615-67 - C-1322 to General Electric Co.,

Schenectady, NY.

This report provides a summary and review of pertinent manipulator technology, assessment of space task capabilities, preliminary specifications and design for a general purpose manipulator,

and a program plan for developing operational capabilities.
A 21

1969

6901 Houldcraft, P. T., "Welding in Space" New Scientist, V. 44,

n. 12, Dec. 1969, p. 502-504.

The suitability of plasma welding, electron beam welding, cold

pressure welding, resistance welding, vacuum diffusion bonding,

and brazing for use in outer space is discussed. In connection

with the Russian Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 missions.

6902 Anon., "Which Welding Process for Space?". Metalworking Production, V. 113, n. 43, Oct. 1969, p. 7.

Discussion of the suitability of the four welding processes -

diffusion welding, electron beam welding, plasma welding,

consumable electrode arc welding - which appear to have been

experimented with in the Soviet space capsule, Soyuz 6.

6903 Houldcraft, P. T., "Cold Welding a Space Station-Probable Russian

Method." Metal Construction and British Welding J., V. 1, n. 11,

Nov. 1969, p. 526.

Although Russian reports indicate that electron beam, plasma,

consumable electrode arc, and cold pressure welding have been

tried out in their recent space program, this article suggests

that the latter process is the most likely one to have been used.

6904 Conrad, H., Rice, L., "A Basic Study of Cold Welding in Ultrahigh

Vacuum". Under contract NONR-4825/00/ to Franklin Institute,

Philadelphia, PA.

The cohesion of the FCC metals Ag, Al, Cu, and Ni under ultrahigh

vacuum was investigated by cold welding specimens previously

fractured in the vacuum. The effects of the compressive load,

heat treatment, alloying, and exposure to contaminating gases are

discussed.

6905 Frankel, H. E., "Effect of Vacuum on Materials". Report

no. NASA-TM-X-61789.

Most of the parameters of the space environment are the same as

those of terrestrial environments, except that the former are

generally more severe. However, in space a new condition is

imposed: a vacuum. The degradative effects of this alien condition on metals, alloys, lubricants, ceramics, coatings, thin

films, and polymeric systems are discussed. In some instances a

vacuum environment can be extremely beneficial to systems, so
A 22

that a component can be designed to take advantage of the environment. Methods of prevention of premature failure in space

environment, as well as proper testing, are also presented.

6906 Wall, W. A., Stephens, D. L., "Automatic Closed Circuit Television. Electrode Guidance for Welding". Welding J., V. 48, n. 9,

Sept. 1969, p. 713-720.

The development of a closed circuit television tracking system

for welding was developed during the Saturn V prototype program.

This new system is unique since it is designed to track both tack

welded or nontack welded joints. Furthermore, the system utilizes a digital, or pulse, technique which results in a large

'go-no-go' tracking signal. This system can be used on a variety

of joint types and metals. An added advantage is that almost any

modern 525-line Vidicon T.V. camera is electrically compatible

and satisfactory as the tracking sensor. The heart of the system

is a special blanking and logic circuit which culminates in a

binary coded decimal output signal.

6907 "A Study of Application of Remote Manipulation to Satellite

Maintenance". Under contract NAS2-5072 to General Electric Co.,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Volume 1: Summary Report

Feasibility of design, development, operation, and costs was

studied for a remote manipulator spacecraft to be used for inorbit repair and maintenance of a satellite. The concept was

applied in the study of four satellite systems representing a

cross section of satellite designs and characteristics, Standard

satellite design practices were identified which could simplify

in-orbit maintenance. The design constraints were minimum cost,

simplicity, ground control link only, and use of the spacecraft

for one mission only. Portions of the maintenance missions were

simulated in a setup that included M-8 mechanical bilateral

manipulators and a remote television display. Such characteristics as manipulator force, torque, reach requirements, mission

duration, weight of the package containing the maintenance parts,

thrust requirements, special tools, and docking equipment were

determined. Development, recurring, and sustaining portions of

the costs were specified for spacecraft operation, ground station,

and factory test equipment. The study shows that a remote manipulator spacecraft system is feasible with only minimum modifications of existing hardware or designs.
A 23

Volume 2: Technical Report

This volume contains the detailed data, illustrations, and descriptions of the remote manipulator spacecraft feasibility

study. In addition to details concerning mission analyses,

laboratory simulations, and design recommendations as specified

in abstract N69-35657, this volume presents information on manipulator tools, reliability and failure modes, design of subsystems, rendezvous requirements, time delay, and development

schedules.
A 24

1970

7001 Buness, G., Weisner, P., "Welding in Space, (Schweissen in

Kosmos)". Schweisstechnik, V. 20, n. 2, Feb. 1970, p. 56-58.

(In German)

The wel+ling experiments conducted in the spaceship Soyuz 6 are

described, with a discussion of the spare conditions which influence welding results. Besides the weldments carried out with the

Vulkan welding apparatus, other welding processes suitable for

space conditions are reported. The space welding experiments

have a great significance for welding on ground, and for the

assembly and repair of orbiting stations.

7002 Paton, B. E., "Experiment on the Welding of Metals in Space".

Translated into English from Visn. Akad. Nauk Ukr. RSR (Kiev),

n. 6, 1970, p. 37-44.

A complex of equipment was constructed to test welding methods

and instruments aboard a spaceborne laboratory under conditions

of vacuum and weightlessness. The equipment included a vacuum

chamber, mechanical preevacuation and getter-ion pumps, recording

system, control apparatus, and instruments for welding by an

electron beam, low-pressure plasma arc, and a fusible electrode.

The principal electrical parameters of welding and chamber pressures for each region of flight were recorded with an oscillograph, and the liquid-drop phenomenon was fumed with SKS-IM

camera. In electron-beam welding and cutting, the fused metal

was held back in the bath or in vacuum cutting only by the force

of surface tension, which was reduced with elevation of the metal

temperature. Low-pressure plasma-arc welding and cutting gave

analogous results. When arc welding with a fused electrode in

weightlessness, surface tension force and metal moistening were

of basic importance in the formation and transport of electrode

metal. Long-arc and short-arc methods of stabilizing arc welding

with a fusible electrode were investigated.

7003 Dmitriev, V. B., "Three Welding Methods Tested in Space". Translation of Khimiya; Zhizn (USSR), V. 6, n. 2, Feb. 1970, p. 17-20.

The article describes the use of an automatic welding machine for

electron beam, consumable electrode and compressed arc welding in

space.

7004 Weisner, P., "Soyuz 6 and Welding". Zis-Mitt., V. 12, n. 1,

Jan. 1970, p. 54-57. (In German)
A 25

Describes the working condiLions in space, and welding tests

carried out during the flight of Soyuz 6. The equipment used is

described, as well as welding with plasma, electron ]team, and

consumable clecLrode. Influence of weightlessness on these

processes is discussed. Possibilities regarding the use of

diffusion, Inner, and cold pressure welding mentioned.

7005 Fartushnyi, V. 0., Lapchinskii, V. F.- "Welding - a New Element

of ASLronautics". Edited LranslaCcri fr , ti? Savttskaya Rossiya,

Oct. 1969, p. 2.

The arLicle discusses welding tinder the high vacuum ned wra tgbLlessness conditions of outer space. IL briefly am mirz *,0,5 Litt,

advantages of welding over oLher ,joining mc f .h d, in muter 6prccr.

7006 Mallory, Jr., K. M., Malone, T. B. 3acn;r , F. L.; "SfAerU ugt of

Systems to Perform Extravehicular Activities, flan anti hattipi-Intor.

Volume 2 - Final Report.". ReporL no. NASA-CH-102765, Matrix

Corp., Alexandria, Va.

The EVA problem is described, and the EVA functions are listed

with nssociaLed task and performance requirements. The currently

available methods for satisfying these requi.remenLs are discussed.

Task, perfurinance, and equipment requirements and capabilities

are presented for manual EVA and for remote manipulator systems.

Tradeoff and workbook nteLhodologies are also discussed.
A 26

1971

7101 Paton, B. E., "Electron Beam Welder for Space". Translation from

Avtomaticheskaya Svarka (USSR), n. 3, 1971, p. 3-8.

The article describes research to develop processes and create

maneuverable, highly reliable, safe equipment for electron beam

welding and cutting of thin-sheet materials under conditions of

terrestrial outer space.

7102 Paton, B. E., "Special Features of Electron Beam Welding and

Cutting Apparatus and Processes for Use in Space". Automatic

Welding, V. 24, n. 3, March 1971, p. 3-8.

The article describes small electron beam apparatus for welding

and cutting sheet metal in space. The special features of the

electron beam welding and cutting of metals have been studied

under conditions simulating weightlessness, and also in flight in

the spaceship Soyuz 6.

7103 Paton, B. E., "Characteristics of Methods and Equipment for

Electron Beam Welding and Cutting in Space". Schweisstechnik,

V. 21, n. 10, Oct. 1971, p. 440-443. (In German)

The advantages of the electron beam process for both welding and

cutting in space are discussed and development work on the determination of the best installation parameters for electron beam

welding in space is described. The requirements of such welding

apparatus, with regard to safety, reliability, and mobility, are

stressed and the development of such equipment at the E.O. Paton

Institute in Kiev is described. Welding and cutting trials

aboard a Russian spacecraft are described. These involved the

flange butt welding of stainless steel and Al alloy, lap joint Ti

alloys, and cutting thin specimens of these metals.

7104 Paton, B. E., Kubasov, V. N., "Welding Experiments in Space,

(Schweissversuche in Weltall)". Zentralinst Schweisstech, V. 13,

n. 2, Feb. 1971, p. 199-210. (In German)

The welding test in space, performed by Soviet astronauts, is

seen as a new important step in the development of space technology. For the first time in world experience a technical

process was accomplished which had to do with the heating and

melting of metals. The results obtained in electron beam, plasma,

and electric arc welding with consumable electrodes are analyzed.

E s

4 '

{y
A 27

1972

7201 Paton, B. E., "Welding in Space" Welding Eng., V. 57, n. 1,

Jan. 1972, p. 25-29.

Soviet Soyuz 6 experiments have proven that welding in space is

practical. Instead of exotic diffusion or other cold welding as

supposed by many, the processes studied were gas shielded consumable arc, microplasma-arc, and electron beam, with a considerable portion of the research devoted to determining the physics

of metal transfer through an arc in the weightless vacuum of

space.

7202 Frantsevich, 1. N., et. al., "Investigation of the Possibility of

Using Radiant Solar Energy for Welding and Soldering of Materials". Paper presented at the 23rd IAF International Astronautical Congress, Vienna, Austria, Oct. 8-15, 1972.

Description of solar-furnace equipment and test results in a

simulation study of the feasibility of using solar energy for

welding, soldering, and heat treatment of metals in space. Solar

energy was concentrated by a parabolic reflector (2 m. diameter)

providing a flux density of about 20,000 cal/sq.cm per minute in

a focal point 8 mm in diameter at normal solar irradiation. The

flux was focused on samples held in a vacuum chamber with a

quartz window. Energy losses in the quartz window and in the

atmosphere are evaluated and test data are given for welds in

tubular samp les of steel and titanium alloy. Overall results

demonstrate the feasibility of solar welding both in space and on

the Earth surface.

7203 Kleinwaechter, H., Weinss, W., "Remotely Controlled Manipulator

for Maintenance of Spacecraft in Orbit, (Ferngesteuerter Manipulator Zur Wartung von Raumfahrzeugen im Orbit)". Presented at

the 5th Dglr. Ann. Meeting, Berlin, Oct. 4-6, 1972. (In German)

A synchronous remotely controlled manipulator for space maintenance is described. The most important information transmission

system is the binocular stereo television camera. Force is

transmitted by strain gages, and 7 degrees of freedom are available for manipulation.
A 28

1973

7301 Pisarenko, G. S., "Space Studies in the Ukraine". Translation of

"Kosmicheskiye Issledovaniya na Ukraine", Kiev, 1973.

Number 1: Space Materials Studies and Technology

The results are presented of studies of the physical and mechanical properties of constructional materials in vacuum at low and

high temperatures. The peculiarities of the processes of friction and wear and metal failure, under short-term static and

long-term alternating loads in conditions similar to those of

space, are examined. Equipment is described which makes it

possible to carry out the technological operations of metal

melting welding, brazing, and vacuum deposition under conditions

simulating space. The problems of unsteady heat transport and

heat transfer for bodies of diff,.renL shape in space are solved.

7302 Paton, B. E., Nazarenko, 0. K., "Electron Beam Welding in Various

Space Positions and in Weightlessness". Preprints from the 4Lh

Internal Conference on Vacuum Metallurgy, Tokyo, Japan, June 4-8,

1973.

Difficulties in on-site welding by the electron beam method occur

not only because of the complexities of equipment maintenance and

control, but also because of changes in the joint formation for

various positions (vertical, overhead, etc.). A method of welding sheet materials under conditions of weightlessness has therefore been developed. The method and equipment are described, and

the mathematics of pressure, surface tension, and volume relationships are explained.

7303 Baker, D., "Skylab - A Spaceborne Materials Laboratory". Engi•-

neering, V. 213, n. 11, Nov. 1973, p. 810-813.

The Skylab space laboratory contains 54 experiments of which 18

are devoted to materials science and manufacturing processes.

The manufacture of items in space for use on Earth is being

considered. The facility for carrying out metal joining by

electron beam and external heat sources is described with details

of experiments oil and exothermic brazing. Other experiments: sphere forming by solidification of metals, semiconductor

crystal growth, flammability in space, experiments in a multipurpose furnace.
A 29

7304 Monroe, R. E., "Characterization of Metals Melting Discs: Skylab

Experiment M551". Under contract NASB-28725 to Battelle Labs,

Columbus, Ohio.

Information developed to characterize flight and ground based

samples from the metals melting experiment is detailed in this

report. Included are the characteristics determined by nondestructive examination, visual observation, metallographic

examination and posttest measurements. Comparisons of the flight

and ground based discs showed that an electron beam heat source

can be used successfully in zero gravity for cutting, welding, or

melting. Few differences were observed that could be attributed

to the absence of gravity in these operations.

7305 Muraki, T., Masubuchi, K., "Final Report on Thermal Analysis of

M551 Experiment for Materials Processing in Space". Under contract NAS8-28732 to M.I.T., Cambridge, Ma.

Heat flow in a disc due to moving heat generated by electron beam

was studied analytically. Computer programs based on the finiteelement method were developed for the analysis of two-and threedimensional mathematical models. The limited experimental data

were compared with the analytical results and various factors

which had influence on heat flow in the disc were studied. Among

various factors radiation seemed to be important for the analysis

of the disc which was stored in a chamber. The computer programs

were modified to consider the effects of metal melting and solidification as well as of radiation. Temperature dependency of

thermophysical properties was also considered in the program.

7306 Muraki, T., Masubuchi, K., "Final Report on Thermal Analysis of

M552 Experiment for Materials Processing in Space". Under contract NAS8-28732 to M.I.T., Cambridge, Ma.

Heat flow analyses as well as experiments were conducted on the

exothermic brazing unit. Emphasis of the analysis was placed on

studying the temperature distribution of the tube and the sleeve.

Therefore various unknown factors on heat supplied to the sleeve

and the tube were reduced to the rate and the distribution of the

heat supplied to the outer wall of the sleeve. Experimental

results were used to improve the analytical model. As far as the

heat flow analysis of the tube and the sleeve was concerned,

fairly accurate results were obtained by the analytical models

adopted.

7307 Holl, H., "The 'Aeros' Satellite-A Welded Construction in Space".

Schweissen and Schneiden, V. 25, n. 9, Sept. 1973, p. 433-435.
A 30

The welding problems arising in the production of the outer shell

(874mm diameter, 558mm height) for the research satellite "Aeros",

weighing 125kg are dealt with. The walls were of X10 crniti 18

90.5mm thick, and were welded together and to the bottom flange

by micro-plasma. Difficulties during welding in consequence of

minor inaccuracies at the butts were dealt with by lengthening

the arc from normally 2.5mm to 6mm. All welds were defect free.

7308 Bement, L. J., "Totally Confined Explosive Welding". Patent

4 106 687, U.S. Government.

The undesirable by-products of explosive welding are confined and

the association noise is reduced by the use of a simple enclosure

into which the explosive is placed and in which the explosion

occurs. An infrangible enclosure is removably attached to one of

the members to be bonded at the point directly opposite the bond

area. An explosive is completely confined within the enclosure

at a point in close proximity to the member to be bonded and a

detonating means is attached to the explosive. The balance of

the enclosure, not occupied by explosive, is filled with a shaped

material which directs the explosive pressure toward the bond

area. A detonator adaptor controls the expansion of the enclosure

by the explosive force so that the enclosure at no point experiences a discontinuity in expansion which causes rupture. The use

of the technique is practical in the restricted area of a space

station.

7309 "Photovoltaic Power and Its Application in Space and on Earth".

International Congress on the Sun in the Service of Man, Paris,

France, July 2-6, 1973.

Recent advances in silicon and Cu25 solar cells are reported in

papers dealing with improved device fabrication processes, factors

participating in degradation mechanisms, design details of spacecraft solar cell arrays, and prospects of economically justified

terrestrial applications. Some particular topics include details

of integrated solar cell panels, design feature of flexible and

deployable large arrays, fabrication methods for thin-film solar

cell structures, and the performance of protective coating materials. Individual items are announced in this issue.
A 31

1974 i

7401 Naumann, E., "Welding and Brazing with Sunrays, (Schweissen and

Loeten mit Sonnenstrahlen)". Zis Mitt., V. 16, n. 1, Jan. 1974,

p. 63-69. (In German)

A review and description is given of welding and brazing experiments carried out by Soviet scientists with the aid of focused

sunbeams. It is shown that with suitable reflectors, sufficiently high intensity of solar radiation, and an adequate

shielding of the welding location (a vacuum chamber) promising

results can be obtained. The method is particularly important to

welding applications in space.

7402 Paton, B. E., "Space Technology and Its Contribution to Science

and Engineering". Akademiia Nauk USSR, Vestnik, April 1974,

p. 48-54. (In Russian)

The significance, to general science and technology, of experiments in molten metal treatment under spacecraft conditions of

weightlessness unreproduceable on earth is noted. Soviet and

American experiments in metal welding on spacecraft are credited

with the initiation of a new branch of technology. The oncoming

trends in this field are visualized as experiments with singlephase and two-phase liquid metal systems involving crystallization, phase separation, surface tensions and wettability; maintenance and installation activities on spacecraft; and production

of industrial materials and items such as reinforced alloy composites, single crystals for radio equipment, and cast pieces.

Some typical low-weight small-size equipment designed for these

purposes is described.

7403 Beliakov, I. T., Borisov, U. D., "Technology in Space"

Izdatel'stvo Mashinostroenie, Moscow, 1974. (In Russian)

The present work is devoted mainly to a general explanation of

the various problems associated with the prospective use of outer

space for industrial and manufacturing purposes. First, the

physical characteristics of space are considered in order to

provide a basis for discussing space as an environment for performing technological processes. Methods of modeling the effects

of space on materials and equipment are explained. The behavior

of materials under space conditions are discussed. The major

part of the book is devoted to technological processes for producing materials, semifinished products, and finished products in

space, and to the technology of assembly and construction work.

Attention is given to the systems needed for manned operations

and some problems of organizing manufacturing in space.
A 32

7404 Bourgeois, S. V., "Physical Forces Influencing Skylab Experiments

M551, M552, and M553". Under contract NASB-27015 to Lockheed

Missles and Space Co., Huntsville, Ala.

The forces concerned with metals melting, exothermic brazing, and

sphere forming experiments on Skylab 1 mission are reported. The

conclusions reached are that no significant practical differences

exist between terrestrial and microgravity electron beam melting,

and braze gap clearances are far less critical to joining operations in space than on earth. Altered microstructures, increased

grain refinement, and the appearance of a single, large interior

shrinkage pore were found in the Skylab specimens.

7405 Tobin, J. M., "Research Study on Materials Processing in SpaceAdhesion-Cohesion Phenomena Under Weightlessness". Under contract

NAS8-28730 to Westinghouse Electrc Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Conclusions of the team of specialists can be generalized as:

(1) Brazing and welding of metal structures in an orbital near

zero gravity condition are quite feasible. (2) Design of joints

for fabrication i p zero gravity will place less emphasis on the

tolerances and proximity of the adjacent structures than on the

quantity of liquid metal available. (3) Brazing of metallic

joints has many advantages over electron beam welding for practical reasons: simplicity, lauch weight, development costs, joint

design tolerances, remotization, etc. (4) No evidence of different physical or mechanical properties of liquid metals in zero

gravity was observed. However, many differences in liquid behavior were observed. Many of these effects have been called

adhesion-cohesion phenomena.

7406 Garland, J. G., McKeown, D., "Metallographic Assessment of Skylab

Experiment M551". Proceeding of Processing and Manufacturing in

Space Symposium, Frascati, March 25-27, 1974, p. 45-64.

Electron beam welds made with 3 materials under conditions of

zero gravity were compared with similar welds produced on Earth.

Full and partial penetration welds in 2219-T87 Al alloy, A1S1 304

stainless steel, and pure tantalum were examined. Metallographic

techniques were developed during the program which facilitated

observations of the solidification and segregation structures of

the materials, including the use of the scanning electron microscope and electron-probe micro-analyser. The differences in

structure between welds made with and without gravity were small.

Further work proposed for Skylab is designed to amplify the role

of convection in weld-pool motion. Relevance to advances in

welding techniques on Earth is outlined.
7407

7408

7409

7410

7411

A 33

Malone, T. B., Micocci, A. J., "Study of Roles of Remote Manipulator Systems and EVA for Shuttle Mission Support". Under contract NAS9-13710 to Essex Corp., Alexandria, Va.

Alternate extravehicular activity (EVA) and remote manipulator

system (RMS) configurations were examined for their relative

effectiveness in performing an array of representative shuttle

and payload support tasks. Initially a comprehensive analysis

was performed of payload and shuttle support missions required to

be conducted exterior to a pressurized inclosure. A set of task

selection criteria was established, and study tasks were identified. The EVA and RMS modes were evaluated according to their

applicability for each task and task condition. The results are

summarized in tabular form, showing the modes which are chosen as

most effective or as feasible for each task/condition. Conclusions concerning the requirements and recommendations for each

mode are presented.

Ryklin, N. N., "Energy Sources Used for Welding". Welding in the

World, V. 12, n. 9-10, p. 227-248.

The energy problems in welding are outlined, and the characteristics of concentrated energy sources are described. Detailed

attention is then given to the individual sources i.e., gas

flame, arc discharge, arc plasma jet, electron beam, radiation

fluxes (including solar radiation), and laser beam.

Akhmedov, A. R., "Use of Concentrated Solar Energy for Welding

Metals". Welding Production, V. 21, n. 2, Feb. 1974, p. 20-23.

A device has been developed by means of which it is possible to

weld metals with the aid of concentrated solar energy. Welding

technology for 1.5, 2, and 3 mm thick stainless steel sheets has

also been developed.

Paton, B. E., et. al., "Stand for Studying Technological Processes Under Conditions Simulating Space". Translated from

"Kosmicheskiye Issledovaniya na Ukraine, Vypusk 1", P. 5-9.

A test stand for conducting processing experiments under conditions simulating space: is described. The most important units of

the stand are discussed. Tests of the stand and research studies

using the stand demonstrated that it is a reliable and universal

research facility which makes it possible to study processes such

as metal melting, welding, and deposition.

Beck, R., et. al., "Assessment of the Results of the Skylab Space

Processing Experiments with Respect to Their Scientific-Technical
A 34

Significance". Under contract ESA-SC-43-RQ to Eattell Inst.,

Frankfurt am Main.

The Skylab experiments (series M512 and M518) were assessed on

the basis of information available in various publications as

well as through consultation with experts in the fields of materials science and space processing. Conclusions and recommendations are given for metals and alloys (melting, exothermic

brazing, sphere forming, immiscible alloy compositions), romposite materials (whiskers in metal matrix, pores in metal matrix,

aligned eutectics), and the growth of single crystals.

7412 "Proceedings of the Third Space Processing Symposium - Skylab

Results", April 30 - May 1, 1974, Marshall Space Flight Center,

Ala.

This publication contains the presentations from the Third Space

Processing Symposium. These papers cover the results of Materials Processing Experiments conducted on NASA's Skylab flights

and several related research activities for Materials Processing

in Space beyond Skylab.
A 35

1975

7501 Naumann, E., "Technology in Space - The Present Situation and

Future Prospects as Regards Welding". Zia Mitteilungen, V. 17,

n. 1, Jan. 1975, p. 61-67. (In German)

A summary is presented of Soviet and American research programs

in space with particular attention to welding and allied processes. Experiments in Soyuz 6 and Skylab included plasma welding

and cutting, electron beam welding, and arc welding. Planned

work includes production and processing of novel materials, and

experiments concerning crystal growth and remelting. Prospects

for new technology and industrial processes are mentioned.

7502 Shoultz, M. B., McClurken, Jr., E. W., "Bibliography of the Space

Processing Program. Volume 1". Under contract NASB-31349 to

Universities Space Research Assoc., Charlottesville, Va.

A compilation of NASA research efforts in the area of space

environmental effects on materials and processes is presented.

Topics considered are: (1) fluid mechanics and heat transfer;

(2) crystal growth and containerless melts; (3) acoustics;

(4) glass and ceramics; (5) electrophoresis; (6) welding; and

(7) exobiology.

7503 Paton, B. E., "'Space Technology, Its Influence on Science and

Engineering". Translated from Avaiat Kosmonavt, n. 11, Nov. 1974,

p. 34-36.

Basic directions in the development of space technology are

defined. These directions are the scientific tests, technology

for making repairs in space, and production of various materials

and components in space. Practical examples of these directions

are discussed.

7504 Ehricke, K. A., "On the Threshold of the Industrial Space Age".

Schweissen and Schneiden, V. 27, n. 12, Dec. 1975, p. 479-487.

(In German)

The them-.,, s dealt with are: Space for processing and space for

living, exo-industry, sensor information, Earth-oriented teleoperations, production in orbits close to the Earth, light in

space, space energy, industry on the moon, space transporters,

the assembly of large plants, and welding technology.

7505 Paton, B. E., et. al., "Trainer for Simulating Welding Operations

in Space". Kosmicheskie Issledovaniia na Ukraine, n. 6, 1975,

p. 18-21. (In Russian)
A 36

The trainer described was developed to assist in designing various

welding equipments for use in a space environment and for training

personnel in operating them. The principal components of the

trainer are a working chamber; a pre-evacuation pump; a highvacuum evacuation system; a system for supplying the chamber with

working gas; and recording, measuring, and control systems.

7506 Popov, Y. P., "Robot Manipulators". Translation of "Roboty -

Manipulyatory", Znaniye Press, Moscow, 1974.

The general use of robot manipulators is explained and the basics

of their design and operation are described for the average

reader. Several pages of the first chapter include a discussion

on the use of robot manipulators in space. Possibilities for

fully and partially automatic robots, robot manipulator and

information robots for space shuttles, space stations, and planetary exploration are outlined. The only example given of robnts

actually used in space is a mention of the Soviet Lunokhod, which

is characterized as the initial stage of planetary robot development. A short list of references is included.

7507 McDermitt, J. ll., Ruff, R. C., "Solar Concentrators for Space

Processing Applications". AIAA Paper 75-698, presented at the

loth AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Denver, Colorado, May 27-29,

1975.

A study on the technological feasibility of using solar concentrators for crystal growth and zone refining in space has been

performed. Previous studies related to the many aspects of the

problem are reviewed. It was concluded from this effort that the

technology for fabricating, orbiting, and deploying large solar

concentrators has been developed. It was also concluded that the

technological feasibility of space processing materials in the

focal region of a solar concentrator depends primarily on two

factors: (1) the ability of a solar concentrator to provide

sufficient thermal energy for the process and (2) the ability of

a solar concentrator to provide a thermal environment that is

conducive to the processes of interest. The study indicates that

solar concentrators of reasonable dimensions can satisfactorily

provide both of these factors. This study also indicates that

solar concentrators are attractive for space processing from the

viewpoint of system specific power and system flexibility.
A 37

1976

7601 Ternovoi, E. C., et. al., "Some Aspects of the Electron Beam

Weldability of Aluminum Alloys Under Conditions of Weightlessness", Kosmicheskie Issledovaniia na Ukraine, n. 9, 1976,

p. 5-11. (In Russian)

The experiments described were carried out with the A-1084

electron-beam welding facility onboard a TU-104A aircraft. The

bilaterally flanged specimens, prepared from AMg6 and D20 alloys,

were 185 x 50 x 5 mm. Chemically etched and polished specimens

were assembled, varying the clearance from 0 'to 1.0 mm and the

off-set from 1.2 to 2.5 mm. Micrographs of the macrostructure of

welds prepared under terrestrial and zero-gravity conditions are

compared. A comparative analysis of the content of alloying

elements in terrestrial and zero-gravity welds showed that losses

by evaporation are practically the same in the presence and

absence of gravity. Weightlessness was found to have a positive

effect in the sense of reducing the danger of arc-over, and a

negative effect characterized by a substantially higher porosity

of the welds, in particular for AMg6 alloy.

7602 Naumann, E., "Materials Research and the Working of Materials in

Space Stations". Zia Mitt., V. 18, n. 8, Aug. 1976, p. 833-842.

(In German)

The phenomenon of weightlessness is outlined and brief details

are given of some experiments, including welding, melting, and

brazing experiments carried out on board Soviet and American

spacecraft. Possible future research goals and activities are

described.

7603 Siewert, T. A., "A Study of Brazing in Skylab II". Ph. D. Thesis,

University of Wisconsin - Madison, May 1976.

An investigation was made of exothermic brazing in space. Specimens consisted of pairs of concentric rings with a brazing filler

positioned in grooves on the inside of the outer tube. An exothermic material was placed around the sleeve and ignited to

bring the specimen to brazing temperature. Specimens were brazed

in space and on the ground, and results are compared. It is

concluded that the process is most acceptable for construction in

space.

7604 Li, C. H., Busch, G., Creter, C., "14551 Metals Melting Experiment

--Space Manufacturing of Aluminum Alloys, Tantalum Alloys, Stainless Steels". Under contract NASS-28728 to Grumman Aerospace

Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

r
A 38

Results are presented which support the concept that the major

difference between ground base and Skylab samples (i.e., large

elongated 1,asins in ground base samples versus nearly equiaxed

and equal rued grains in Skylab samples) can be explained on the

basis of constitutional supercooling, and not on the basis of

surface phenomena. Microstructural observations on the weld

samples and present explanations for some of these observations

are examined. In particular, ripples and their implications to

weld solidification were studied. Evidence of pronounced copper

segregation in the Skylab Al weld samples, and the tantalum

samples studied, indicates a weld microhardness (and hence

strength) that is uniformly higher than the ground base results,

which is in agreement with previous predictions. Photographs are

shown of the microstructure of the various alloys.

7605 "Space Fabrication Techniques". Under contract NAS8-31876 to

Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

A structural building block was designed for the construction of

large area space structures for space manufacturing. The building block is lightweight and includes a roll formed aluminum

alloy truss, 1 meter deep by 40 meters long, with vertical braces

spaced every 1'k meters and interconnected by diagonal members.

It can be fabricated in orbit by an automated facility consisting

of three rolling mills used to roll form the three truss caps,

and six magazines which carry ground fabricated shear bracing

into orbit for assembly with the caps. Processes are synchronized using feedback control systems.

7606 Passaglia, E., Parker, R. .b., "NBS Space Processing Research".

Under contract NASA-W-13475 to National Bureau of Standards,

Washington D.C.

This report describes NBS work for NASA in support of NASA's

Space Processing Program covering the period November 1, 1974 to

December 31, 1975. The objectives of the NBS program are to

perform ground-based studies (and, where appropriate, space-based

studies) of those aspects of space that could possibly provide a

unique environment for making materials more perfect or more

pure. T)e approach taken deals primarily with experimental and

theoretie?! studies of the possible effects of the absence of

gravitational forces on those materials preparation processes

where the presence of gravity may be important in reducing perfection or purity.
A 39

1977

E

7701 Bogs, N., Salim, P. R., Hesse, P., "Investigation of the Solidification Behavior of Electron Beam Welds Under Microgravitational

Conditions", Brown, Boveri and Cie, Heidelberg. (In German)

A survey of the literature was made in order to define a technique for the visualization of convection currents in an electron

beam melt-channel and to identify the gravity dependent components of this convection phenomenon. Preliminary experiments with

different steels were also conducted in order to show the influence of convection on microstructure and mechanical properties.

Results are summarized in three proposals for further experimentation. These are electron beam welding of a transparent medium,

i.e. quartz glass, to directly visualize convection phenomena,

utilization of larger than 1 g values in order to extrapolate

back to zero g behavior, and controlled experiments with Cr

steels to measu.e the effect of convection on the mechanical

properties and microstucture (quantitative metallography).

7702 Siewert, T. A., Heine, R. W., Adams, C. M., Willaims, J. R., "The

Skylab Brazing Experiment". Welding J., V. 56, n. 10, Oct. 1977,

p. 2915-3005.

Four specimens from the exothermic brazing experiment processed

aboard Skylab in June 1973 have been compared with identical

specimens processed in the same conditions on Earth, the only

difference being the presence of a gravitational field. Skylab

samples had a generally lower concentration of defects and voids.

A detailed description is given of the experimental package.

7703 Okhotim, A. S., Laptchinsky, V. F., Shonin, G. S., "Some results

of Studies in Space Technology in the U.S.S.R.". Progress in

Astronautics and Aeronautics, V. 52, 1977, p. 355-362.

Studies in space technology in the U.S.S.R. are discussed.

Topics include experimental results of welding in weightlessness,

development of suitable welding equipment, studies of the spacecraft (micro) atmosphere and its effect on processes, and the

effect of controlled external disturbances on the crystallization

of multiphase media and eutectic alloys under various gravitational conditions. Prospects are outlined.

7704 Greger, G., "Utilization of Space Laboratories for Materials

Research and Processing Technology". Werkstatt im Weltraum,

n. 391, 1977, p. 4-21. (In German)
I

e^^

I A 40

Emphasis on possible economic advantages arising from prospects

of increased knowledge, new materials and improved technologies

in zero gravity conditions are considered in a general summary of

German participation in the European Space Agency (ESA), and a

survey of 400 scientific experiments suggested by various German

research institutions. Theoretical possibilities for improvements or new discoveries relating to metals, composite materials,

measuring and engineering assembly techniques, e.g. electron beam

welding, are listed.

7705 Weiss, H., "Physical Conditions for Materials Manufacture in Zero

Gravity". Werkstatt im Weltraum, n. 391, 1977, p. 22-27. (In

German)

The idea o" spacecraft assembly in space from component structures requires a thorough study of welding and soldering feasibility in weightless conditions. Comparisons are made of

various welding methods, containerless melts, crystal growth

methods, etc., in space conditions and on the ground. Proposed

experiments with Zn-Sb, Al-In, Al-Pb liquid-phase systems are

mentioned and thermal convection effects are compared, including

the Marangoni effect.

7706 Grodzke, P. G., "Space Processing Applications of Ion Beam Technology". Under contract NAS3-20095 to Lockheed Missles and Space

Co., Huntsville, Ala.

Ion thruster engines for spacecraft propulsion can serve as ion

beam sources for potentia l. space processing applications. The

advantages of space vacuum environments and the possible gravity

effects on thruster ion beam materials operations such as thin

film growth, ion milling, and surface texturing were investigated.

The direct gravity effect on sputter deposition and vapor deposition processes are discussed as well as techniques for cold and

warm welding.

7707 "Space Fabrication Technique". Under contract NAS8-31876 to

Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

A structura;, building. block was designed for the construction of

large area space structures for space manufacturing. The building block is lightweight and includes a roll formed aluminum

alloy truss, 1 meter deep by 40 meters long, with vertical braces

spaced every lk meters and interconnected by diagonal members.

It can be fabricated in orbit by an automated facility consisting

of three rolling mils used to roll form the three truss caps, and

six magazines which carry ground fabricated shear bracing into

orbit for assembly with the caps. Processes are synchronized

using feedback control systems.
A 41

7708 "Space Fabrication Demonstration System'. Under contract

NASB-31876 to Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, ;;.Y.

Progress on fabrication facility (beam builder) support structure

control, clamp/weld block, and welding and truss cut off is

discussed. The brace attachment design was changed and the

design of the weld mechanism was modified which achieved the

following system benefits: (1) simplified weld electrode life;

(2) reduced weld power requirements; and (3) simplified brace

attachment mechanisms. Static and fatigue characteristics of

spot welded 2024T3 aluminum joints are evaluated.

7709 Paton, B. E., Balitskii, V. M., Samilov, V. N., "Transforming

Welded Shells for Space Systems". 28th IAF International Astronautical Congress, Prague, Czechoslovakia, Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 1977.

Regular isometric transformation of welded thin metal shells is

studied, with the aim of facilitating the construction of metal

assemblies in space. Laws for isometric surface transformation,

based on the differential Codazzi-Gauss equations, are discussed,

and processes involving a series of regular isometric folds to

create an overall transformation with no shell deformtion are

considered. Examples of the processes, including the construction of multicone shells from planar disks or the transformation

of a toroidal shell into a compact roll, are given.

7710 Busch, G., "M551 Metals Melting Experiment". Under contract

NAS8-28728 to Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

Electron beam welding studies were conducted in the Skylab M551

metals melting experiment, on three different materials; namely

2219-T87 alumii.im alloy, 304L stainless steel, and commercially

pure tantalum (0.5 wt % columbium). Welds were made in both one

gravity and zero gravity (Skylab) environments. Segments from

each cf the welds were investigated by microhardness, optical

microscopy, scanning microscopy, and electron probe techniques.

In the 2219-T87 aluminum alloy samples, macroscopic banding and

the presence of an eutectic phase in the grain boundaries of the

heat affected zone were observed. The stainless steel samples

exhibited a sharp weld interface and macroscopic bands. The

primary microstructural features found in the tantalum were the

presence of either columnar grains (ground base) or equiaxed

grains (Skylab). The factors contributing to these effects are

discussed and the role of reduced gravity in welding is considered.

7711 Vykukal, H. C., King, R. F., Vallotton, W. C., "Antropomorphic

Master/Slave Manipulator System". Patent-4 046 262, to the

United States Government.
A 42

An anthropomorphic master/slave manipulator system including

master arm apparatus with a plurality of master tubular articulated portions is outlined. Objectives of this investigation

were to provide a system that accurately and smoothly simulates

human limb movement at a remote location. The system has a high

frequency response, a high structural stiffness and a design that

protects the components of the slave mechanism. Simulation of

human movements is possible in outer space, underwater, and in a

hazardous environment such as in a high radiation area. The

equivalent ability, dexterity, and strength of a human arm are

simulated.

7712 Henson, H. K., Drexler, K. E., "Vapor-Phase Fabrication of Massive

Structures in Space". AIAA Paper 77-542, presented at the AIAA

3rd Conference on Space Manufacturing Facilities, Princeton, N.J.,

May 9-12, 1977.

Vapor deposition may be an economical approach to processing and

fabricating metals (especially aluminum) in space. This method,

which uses to advantage the sunlight, vacuum, and zero gravity

conditions of space, is found to have advantages when considered

from metallurgical, physical and cost viewpoints. A design for a

large scale (230 ton) solar powered deposition apparatus with a

throughput rate of 10 kg/second and the associated physical and

chemical material problems are described in detail. Strength and

fracture mechanics considerations may favor silica fiber reinforcement of seamless aluminum pressure vessels vapor deposited

on inflated forms for s p ace habitats.

7713 Woodcock, G. R., "Large-Scale Space Operations for Solar Power

Satellites". AIAA Paper 77-1031, presented at the AIAA, EEI, and

IEEE Conference on New Options in Energy Technology, San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 2-4, 1977.

Analogies with industrial development and with the Saturn, Shuttle, and Skylab programs demonstrate the feasibility of Solar

Power Satellites (SPS) that require space lauch rates countable

in flights per day, systems with very large mass and size, and

large-scale construction techniques in orbit. SPS energy production is estimated to equal 400,000 barrels of oil per day

throughout an SPS operational life of 30 years or more; low

transport costs to low earth orbit and on to geosynchronous orbit

are projected as a result of: reusability of vehicles; high

traffic volume; relatively rapid ground turnaround; and large

payload capacity. Construction procedures and installation of

reflector systems are discussed, and diagrams of fabrication

methods and devices are presented. About 10 manhours would be

needed to erect one ton of material, and a workforce of 500 to

w.

r^
A 43

700, working 10-hour shifts 6 days a week during a 90-day

orbiting period, is projected.
A 44

:978

7801 Lorant, M., "Electron Beam Welder for Use in Space". Welding and

Metal Fabrication, V. 46, n. 6, June 1978, p. 365.

The development of electron beam welding equipment for use in

space is reported. It is designed for test welding in an orbiting workshop, and is capable of producing a 20kw, 100ma tightly

focused beam for five minutes at a time from a 2kw battery power

source. Various design features and peformance tests are mentioned.

7802 "Space Fabrication Demonstration System". Under contract

NAS8-32472 to Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

The completion of assembly of the beam builder and its first

automatic production of truss is discussed. A four bay, hand

assembled, roll formed members truss was built and tested to

ultimate load. Detail design of the fabrication facility (beam

builder) was completed and designs for subsystem debugging are

discussed. Many one bay truss specimens were produced to demonstrate subsystem operation and to detect problem areas.

7803 Browning, D. L., "On-Orbit Fabrication and Assembly of Composite

Structures". AIAA Conference on Large Space Platforms,

Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 27-29, 1978.

An investigation is conducted regarding the merits and the feasibility of on-orbit fabrication of composites for space applications. It is found that for reasons of economics, reliability,

and structural efficiency, on-orbit beam fabrication with composite materials will be the principal mode of basic-member

construction for the very large space systems of the future. The

most significant current issue, then, is not so much why on-orbit

fabrication as when. Clearly the system-functional technologies

of future large space systems must first be developed and demonstrated, perhaps, in orbit., then integrated into larger spacecraft serving as prototypes to provide proof-of-concept for the

yet larger operational systems. Similarly, cost-effective

construction technology must be available when needed and the

very high reliability required for mass production must exist.

7804 Fleisig, R., "Shuttle Demonstration of Large Space Structure

Fabrication and Assembly". 29th IAF International Astronautical

Congress, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, Oct. 1-8, 1978.
A 45

This paper describes a program aimed at the early on-orbit demonstration of a large-space-structure fabrication and assembly

capability. Requirements for the demonstration concept have been

formulated. The concept selected to meet these requirements is a

Large Space Structure Platform consisting of a triangular prism

of 31.5 m length. Sensors can be mounted on this platform to

perform earth-observation measurements from space. Structural

elements of the platform are fabricated using an automated beam

builder in the Shuttle Orbiter payload bay. Special fixtures are

designed to assemble the structure with the aid of the remote

manipulator system and two astroworkers in an EVA mode. Results

of the platform preliminary design are presented in terms of a

design layout with related structural, thermal, mass-properties,

and control-dynamics data. The assembly scenario is described.

Estimates of the total construction time and Orbiter support

requirements are also presented.

7805 Garibotti, J. F., Curertny, A. J., Johnson, R., "On-Orbit Fabrication and Assembly of Large Space Structural Subsystems".

29th IAF International Astronautical Congress, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, Oct. 1-8, 1978.

Future large space systems are examined with respect to on-orbit

fabrication, and the role, design, and testing of generic structures are considered. The feasibility of on-orbit fabrication of

a selected generic structure, a tetrahedral truss, is indicated

and preliminary planning for integration of a beam machine and

associated fabrication equipment with the Orbiter is reported.

The development of large structural subsystems and their evaluation are discussed.

7806 Vontiesenhausen, G. F., "Nonterrestrial Materials Processing and

Manufacturing of Large Space Systems". Report no. NASA-TA-78207,

Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.

An attempt is made to provide pertinent and readily usable information on the extraterrestrial processing of materials and manufacturing of components and elements of these planned large space

systems from preprocessed lunar materials which are made available at a processing and manufacturing site in space. Required

facilities, equipment, machinery, energy and manpower are defined.

7807 Disher, J. H., "Planning for Large Construction Projects in

Space". In Using Space - Today and Tomorrow, Proceeding of the

28th International Astronautical Congress, Prague, Czechoslovakia, Sept. 25-Oct. 1 1977, Pergamon Press Ltd., Oxford, Eng.,

1978, p. 79-123.
A 46

The paper discusses briefly some broad plans for developing the

technology needed for large construction projects in space ranging from orbiting solar power stations to large communications

antennas. Space construction classes include assembly of modules,

deployment of compacted structures, assembly of passive preformed

pieces, and fabrication of structures from sheet stock. Technological areas related to structural concepts include (1) analyses

for prediction of structural behavior, structural/control interaction, electromagnetic and control performance, and integrated

design development; (2) electronics for signal conditioning and

data acquisition, power distribution, and signal channel interference and multipaction; (3) concepts for shape control,

attitude/pointing control, and orbital transfer and station

keeping; and (4) materials and techniques for 30-year dimensional

stable composites, thermal control, thin-lightweight structural

alloys, and material joining in space. The concept of a power

module for the construction operations is discussed along with a

concept for a habitability module.

7808 Davis, E. E., Miller, K. H., "Construction of a lOGWe Solar Power

Satellite". 13th Intersociety Energy Conservation Engineering

Conference, San Diego, Calif., Aug. 20-25, 1978. Proceedings,

V. 1, p. 189-194.

This paper describes the major systems and operations associated

with the construction of a 10 GWe photovoltaic power satellite.

Eight satellite modules and two antennas are constructed at a LEO

earth orbit construction base. Structure for the satellite is

fabricated in orbit while solar arrays, power distribution and

microwave units are fabricated on Earth and only require installation.

7809 Muench, W. K., "Automatic Fabrication of Large Space Structures -

The Next Step". AIAA paper 78-1651.

An outline is presented of a plan which will lead to the establishment of an operational five giga watt solar power satellite

in space. A detailed description is presented of the first stage

of this plan. This stage is concerned with the development of a

machine that is to be employed torp oduce the basic building

block beams in space, which are used in the assembly of the large

space structures required. A ground demonstration version of

this machine has already been completed. After the feasibility

of automatically producing beams has been successfully demonstrated, questions arise concerning the next step which has to be

taken. One possible answer to this question is discussed, taking

into account the development of a special end effector for the

Space Shuttle's remote manipulator system.
A 47

7810 Spynu, G. A., Timoshenko, V. G., Antonenko, V. T., "Automation of

Welding Production. Robots, (Avtomatizatsiya Svarochnogo Proizvodstva. Roboty)". Itogi Nauki I Tekhniki Svarka, V. 10, 1978.

(In Russian)

This is a review of USSR and non-USSR literature on the use of

robots for automating welding processes. The technology and

automation of resistance, arc, and electron beam welding processes are discussed. Control systems, including group control, for

line robots are discussed. Welding robots in space and underwater are considered.

7811 Paton, B. E., "Welding in the USSR: Technology and Production".

Welding and Metal Fabrication, V. 46, n. 3, April 1978, p. 201-

207.

The current status of welding technology in the USSR is reviewed.

Recent developments are considered and prospects for the next

five year plan are outlined, including a gradual conversion to

mechanized and automated welding. The main subjects under discussion include: arc welding, electrslag welding, resistance

welding, thermo-compression bonding, welding in space, and electron beam welding.

7812 Covault, C., "Structure Assembly Demonstration Slated--For Large

Space Structures in Low Orbit". Aviation Week and Space Technology, V. 108, June 1978, p. 49-53.

A proposal to test the large structures fabrication capability of

the STS is presented with reference to a 10 x 30 meter structure

that could be deployed as early as 1983 with a science/applications payload, or remain attached to the Shuttle. Attention is

given to the prospect of deploying large antennas in both LEO and

GEO, the first of which would be powered by a 25 kw module. The

use of aluminum rolls, which could be processed into beams once

in space, is viewed as the most likely approach to the problem of

large structure fabrication.
A 48

e u

1979

7901 Philippovich, N., Frieler, K., Bathke, W., Stukler, R., "Brazing

Under Microgravity - Texus II Experiment". Proceedings of Material Sciences in Space Conference, Grenoble, France, April 24-27,

1979, p. 95-100.

To evaluate the effects of low gravity on vacuum brazing and the

phenomena involved (i.e. flow of braze metal, joint filling,

microstructure), an experiment was performed in the isothermal

heating furnace of the Texus II sounding rocket. The sample,

consisting of four Ni cylinders inserted one inside the other to

form a 200 micrometre cylindrical gap and a 0-2000 micrometre

sickle-shaped gap was brazed with a near eutectic Ag-Cu alloy.

t This brazing alloy contained a small amount of Li to promote

spreading (58%Ag-39%Cu-3°/,Li wt.) and radioactive 110 Ag as tracer

metal. The sample was evaluated by autoradiography and metallographic techniques.

7902 Stokes, J. W., Pruett, E. C•, "Structural Assembly in Space".

Langley Research Center Large Space Systems Technology, 1979,

D. 263-285.

A cost algorithm for predicting assembly costs for large space

structures is given. Assembly scenarios are summarized which

describe the erection, deployment, and fabrication tasks for five

large space structures. The major activities that impact total

costs for structure assembly from launch through deployment and

assembly to scientific instrument installation and checkout are

described. Individual cost elements such as assembly fixtures,

handrails, or remote minipulators are also presented.

7903 Bloom, K. A., "Space Construction and Utility Distribution."

Langley Research Center Large Space Systems Technology, 1979,

D. 287-301.

Technology advancement to effect an orderly development program

leading to construction of space platforms was defined, in a

program that utilized a viable platform and service module concept with concise OSS/OAST mission and payload models. Consideration was given to concepts for alternate platform servicing of

the payloads described in the model. Using the baseline configuration, issues pertinent to platform development as well as

orbit emplacement and operation and on orbit construction methodology were analyzed. These analyses provided the following

data: (1) payload definitions and installation options; (2)

identified structural and subsystems options; (3) developed
A 49

integrated platform system concepts; and (4) identified technology deficiencies and recommended technology development timelines.

7904 Kumagai, J. 'Y., Freeman, V. L., "Design and In-Orbit Operation of

a Geodetic Beam Builder". In Enigma of the Eighties: Environment, Economics, Energy. Proceeding of the 24th National Symposium and Exhibition, San Francisco, Calif., May 8-10, 1979,

p. 300-310.

Design and operation of a geodetic beam builder intended as the

basis for an in-orbit fabrication demonstration of space structure is described. The machine automatically fabricates 426 ft.

long by 5.07 ft diameter beams, with 36 helices and 36 longitudinal graphite-thermoplastic rods of 0.067 in, square crosssection. The machine construction and its prelaunch and in-orbit A.

operations are discussed, noting that only ultrasonic welding and

cutting of the rods will be done in orbit. The beam builder

energy consumption, beam straightness, joining and cutting operations, and earth fabrication of rod stock and end closeouts are

considered, and it is concluded that low-cost pultrusion of

graphite-thermoplastic rods and their ultrasonic welding require

further development.

7905 Jenkins, L. M., Browning, D. L., "Space Fabrication: Graphite

Composite Truss Welding and Cap Forming Subsystem". Langley

Research Center Large Space Systems, 1979, p. 247-261.

An automated beam builder for the fabrication of space structures

is described. The beam builder forms a triangular truss

1.3 meters on a side. Flat strips of preconsolidated graphite

fiber fabric in a polysulfone matrix are coiled in a storage

canister. Heaters raise the material to forming temperature then

the structural cap section is formed by a series of rollers.

After cooling, cross memb,^rs and diagonal tension cords are

ultrasonically welded in place to complete the truss. The stability of fabricated structures and composite materials is also

examined.

7906 Heer, E., "The Role of Robots and Automation in Space". Under

contract NAS7-100 to Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, Calif.

Advanced space transportation

interim upper stage will open

industrial nd commercial syste

automation technology in the

operation of such ^%stems in

Planning studies initiated by

space exploration, global ser,

systems based on the shuttle and

the way to the use of large-scale

ins in space. The role of robot and

cost-effective implementation and

the next two decades is discussed.

NASA are described as applied to

7ices, and space industrialization,
A 50

and a forecast of potential missions in each category is presented. The appendix lists highlights of space robot technology

from 1967 to the present.

7907 "Space Construction Automated Fabrication Experiment Definition

Study". Report NAS-CR-160345, General Dynamics/Convair,

San Diego, Calif.

The concept of automated construction in a space environment of a

triangular beam made from laminated graphite/glass composite

strip is considered. Use of ultrasonic welding is mentioned, as

are the use of external surface coatings, and cost aspects.

7908 "Manned Remote Work Station Development Artcle". Under contract

NAS9-15507 to Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

The mission requirements for the manned remote work station

(MRWS) flight article and the manned remote work station open

cherry picker development test article is defined. Considerations are given for the near, mid, and far term use of the MRWS

with emphasis on its ultimate application: constructing the

Solar Power Satellite.

7909 Bement, L. J., "Totally Confined Explosive Welding". Report

N79-13364/1SL, NASA Langley Research Center.

An explosive is placed inside a removable explosive-proof enclosure, attached to one of the members to be bonded directly

opposite the bonding area. A detonator is attached to the explosive and the empty part of the enclosure is balanced by a

shaped filler material, which directs the explosive pressure

towards the area to be bonded. The expansion of the enclosure is

controlled by a detonator adaptor, so that rupture cannot occur

by expansion discontinuity. The undesirable by-products of

explosive welding are confined and the noise reduced by the

enclosure, providing a safe and practical technique for use in

the restricted area of a space station.

7910 Paton, B. E., "Welding in the USSR". Welding J., V. 58, n. 2,

Feb. 1979, p. 15-26.

Areas of welding applications reviewed include manufacture of

steam/gas turbine rotors, electroslag surfacing, submerged arc

and electroslag welding of titanium, pressure vessel welding, gas

pipeline construction, nuclear power reactor construction,

resistance/flash welding applications, space and underwater

welding. Automation of welding and auxiliary processes is given

high priority in the USSR.

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A 51

1980

8001 Paton, B. E, et. al., "A Study of Electrode Melting and Metal

Transfer in Welding Under Conditions of Variable Gravitational

Forces". Proceedings of the International Conferenc: on Arc

Physics and Weld Pool Behavior, London, Eng., May 8-12, 1980.

Volume 1, Session 2, Paper 37.

Experiments are reported on the welding of 18-8 stainless steel,

aluminum, and titanium alloys (1 mm thick) under conditions of

zero gravity during flights on board a flying laboratory in the

Keplerian trajectory. Welding by conventional consumable electrode arc was carried out in a sealed chamber filled with argon.

Electrode melting and metal transfer were studied with a high

speed camera. Results are presented on: droplet formation;

effect of current on transfer of droplets; effect of current

pulsing. Procedure!, which stabilize welding under these conditions are proposed.

8002 Hoffineister, H., Ruediger, J., "Investigations on the Influence

of Gravity on Joining Processes with Liquid Melts, and of Brazing

and Welding Experiments Under Weightlessness". Report no.

BMFT-FB-W-81-024, Hochschul.e der Bundeswehe, Hamburg, Ger. (In

German)

Physical mechanisms in welding and brazing likely to be affected

by space conditions are considered and the literature on actual

space experiments is reviewed. Proposed Spacelab test experiments and complementary testing on Earth are described. Further

development needs are identified in arc welding. It ie proposed

to analyze the influence of gravity on material transfer, on the

shape and structure of seam, and on the segregation of the phases

by: (1) taking advantage of rotary motions on Earth in order to

raise the g level or to create short time weightlessness;

(2) working in an aircraft or rocket under longer microgravity

conditions; and (3) performing arc-spot welding in a vacuum so as

to develop this process for use in space.

8003 Derby, B., Wallace, E. R., "Joining Methods in Space: A Theoretical Model for Diffusion Bonding". Acta Astronautica, V. 7,

1980, p. 685-698.

In the near future it will be necessary to join metal components

in space, for either construction. or repair purposes. Potential

joining techniques are briefly considered in terms of their

suitability for bonding the likely materials to be used, aluminum

and/or titanium alloys. One technique, diffusion bonding, is of
A 52

considerable promise but the bonding mechanisms are not fully

understood. Thus the paper describes a computer model which is

being developed to gain sufficient understanding that diffusion

bonding can be more fully and efficiently developed and thus

exploited.

8004 Svoboda, T., et. al., "PERUN - Space Shuttle External Tank Used as

a Space Station". Acta Astronautics, V. 7, 1980, p. 699-717.

This paper describes the results of a study project which has

been conducted by a Student Working Group for Astonautics of the

Planetarium of Praha. It deals with the possibility of converting an expended Space Shuttle External Tank into a space station,

a permanently manned orbital facility. The space station was

designed economically by using much off-shelf hardware developed

for earlier space projects, It is compatible with the Space

Transportation System which will operate in the 1980s. It is

proposed that mission dependent experimental equipment be carried

aboard Spacelab modules which should be exchanged during periodic

revisits by the Space Shuttle,

8005 Savage, M., Hagler, T., " Space Fabriction - Th Key to Future

Large Space Systems". 31st IAF International Astronautical

Congress, Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 22-28, 1980.

Construction techniques for large s pace structures are discussed.

It is pointed out that in contrast to assembly in orbit and the

deployment technique space fabrication offers favorable densities

(transporting structural materials on reels) and can be adapted

to automated construction. A space fabrication machine containing reels of flat sheet material and sets of rollers or dies is

described, as is a machine for fabricating composite material

(which must be heated for forming and then cooled to achieve

structural strength). The use of fabrication machines to build

such stru& . rt. as space platforms, microwave radiometers, and

satellite ^ )wer udstems is discussed.

8006 Avduyevsky, V., Grishin, S., Savitchev, V., "Technological Experiments Aboard 'Salyut-5 1 ". Acta Astronautica, V. 7, 1980,

p. 867-876.

During the flight of the Soviet orbital space complex "Salyut-5"

-- "Soyuz" the experiments on the space technology and materials

production had been conducted amongst the versatility of various

scientific research. The experiment "Diffusiya" was aimed at

investigating the features of mass transfer under near-zerogravity conditions. The experimental results had been compared

with those obtained under terrestrial conditions and theoretical

^j
A 5^

calculations. The experiment " Potok" was aivnece.c studying the

gas inclusions motion dynamics in the liquid. The crystal growth

from solutions was fulfilled with the aid cf thr, "Crystal" instrument. The experiment "Sphera" had an objectiv43 to study the

solidification of multicomponent metal sample with a free surface. When soldering the pipe junctions use was made of the

"Reaktsiya" instrument. The experimental reaultr convributed

greatly to the creation of scientific foundtakiu,9 rag. space technology and material production.

5007 Weldon, W. F., "A Study of the Applicability/Compatibility of

Inertial Energy Storage Systems to Future Space Missions".

Report NASA-CR-163584.

The applicability of homopolar generators and compensated pulse

alternators to future space mission, and to other applications,

including welding, are discussed.

8008 Pruett, E. C., Loughead, T. E., Robertson, K., "Structural Attachments for Large Space Structures". Under contract NAS8-33599 to

Essex Corp., Huntsville, Ala.

The feasibility of fabricating beams in space and using them as

components of a large, crew assembled structure, was investigated. Two projects were undertaken: (1) design and development

producing triangular Gros

of a ground version of an automated beam builder capable of

section aluminum beams; and ( 2) design

and fabrication of lap j )ints to connect the beams orthogonally

and centroidal end caps to connect beams end to end at any desired angle. The first iroject produced a beam building machine

which fabricates aluminii Ti beams suitable for neutral buoyancy

evaluation. The second project produced concepts for the lap

joint and end cap. Howe, , er, neither of these joint concepts was

suitable for use by a )ressure suited crew member in a zero

gravity environment. It is concluded that before the beams can

be evaluated the joint i esigns need to be completed and sufficient joints produced to allow assembly of a complex structure.

8009 Muench, W. K., "Automated Beam Builder". Proceedings of the

14th Aerospace Mechanics Symposium, p. 247-265.

Requirements for the space fabrication of large space structures

are considered with emphasis on the design, development, manufacture, and testing of a machine which automatically produces a

basic building block aluminum beam. Particular problems discussed include those associated with beam cap forming: brace

storage, dispensing, and transporting; beam component fastening;

and beam cut-off. Various critic:.l process tests conducted to

F

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develop technology for a machine to produce composite beams are

also discussed.

8010 Jenkins, L. M., "Construction Assembly and Overview - Large Space

Structures". Langley Research Center Large Space Systems Technology, v. 1, 1980, p. 217-228.

The graphite composite forming and welding technologies for the

beam builder concept are discussed. Testing of the prototype

truss segment and requirements for orbiter based construction

equipment concepts are briefly addressed.

8011 "Space Fabrication Demonstration System. Quarterly Progress

Report, January 1980". Report NASA-CR-161704, Grumman Aerospace

Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

Various aspects of the development of this system are detailed

from the point of view of meeting cost and schedule requirements.

Also discussed are the continuing tests of the LARC prototype

induction welder which shows that the interface screening must be

well impregnated with resin to ensure proper flow when bonding

graphite-acrylic lap shear samples, and the preparation of specimens from 0.030 in (0.76 mm) thick graphite-polyethersulphone for

future induction fastening evaluation.

8012 "Advanced Automation for Space Missions; Technical Summary".

Under contract NGR-05-017-998 to Santa Clara Univ., Calif.

Several representative missions which would require extensive

applications of machine intelligence were identified and analyzed. The technologies which must be developed to accomplish

these types of missions are discussed. These technologies in-

::lude man-machine communication. space manufacturing, teleoperators, and robot systems.

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1981

8101 Lapchinski, V. F., "Welding in Space". Welding in the USSR,

V. 2, 1981, p. 487-493. (In Russian)

Experience with welding operations performed on Soviet space

flights is reviewed. Particular consideration is given to space

welding simulation experiments, and to the development of space

welding equipment (e.g., welding guns) and techniques.

8102 Okhotin, A. S., 'Basic Trends and Problems of Industrialized

Processes in Space". In Problems of Space Studies, Mezhdunarodnyi Tsentr Nauchnoi i Tekhnicheskoi Informatsii, 1981,

p. 60-72. (In Russian)

A number of physical and chemical phenomena occurring under

conditions of weightlessness and deep vacuum are examined, including diffusion, heat transfer, and surface tension. Two basic

trends in the development of industrial processes in space are

considered: (1) manufacturing methoe,s involving crystal growth;

and (2) such industrial processes as the welding, soldering, and

joining of structures, which are pertinent to the construction

and operation of long-term space stations.

8103 "Space Construction Experiment Definition Study". Under contract

NAS9-16303 to General Dynamics/Convair, San Diego, Calif.

Part 1, V. 1, Executive Summary:

Definition was completed on a basic flight experiment which will

provide data on the construction of large space systems from the

orbiter which could not be practicably obtained from ground

tests. Dynamic behaivor of a representative large structure was

predicted. On-orbit construction operations were studied.

Orbiter control during and after construction was investigated.

Evolutionary or supplmental flight experiments for the development, of augmentation of a basic flight experiment were identified

and defined.

Part 1, V. 2, Study Results:

A basic Space Shuttle flight experiment which will provide needed

data on the construction of large space systems from the Orbiter

was defined. The predictei dynamic behavior of a representative

large structure, on-orbit construction operations, and Orbiter

control during and after construction were studied. Evolutionary
A 56

or supplemental flight experiments for the development or augmentation of a basic flight experiment were identified and defined.

The study was divided into six major tasks with appropriate

sub-tasks noted.

8104 Shen, C. N., "Data Acquisition and Analysis of Range-Finding

Systems for Space Construction". Report on NASA-CR-164643,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.

For space missions of future, completely autonomous robotic

machines will be required to free astroanuts from routine chores

of equipment maintenance, servicing of faulty systems, etc. and

to extend human capabilities in hazardous environments full of

cosmic and other harmful radiations. In places of high radiation

and uncontrollable ambient illuminations, T.V. camera based

vision systems cannot work effectively. However, a vision system

utilizing directly measured range information with a time of

flight laser rangefinder, can successfully operate under these

environments. Such a system will be independent of proper illumination conditions and the interfering effects of intense radiation of all kinds will be eliminated by the tuned input of the

laser instrument. Processing the range data according to certain

decision, stochastic estimation and heuristic schemes, the laser

based vision system will recognize known objects and thus provide

sufficient information to the robot's control system which can

develop strategies for various objectives.

8105 Cliff, R. A., "An Hierarchical System Architecture for Automated

Design, Fabrication, and Repair". Proceedings of the 5th Space

Manufacturing Conference, Princeton, N.J., May 18-21, 1981,

p. 121-126.

The architecture of an automated system which has the following

properties is described: (1) if it is presented with a final

product specification (within its capabilities) it will do the

detailed design (all the way down to the raw materials if need

be) and then produce that product; (2) if a faulty final product

is presented to the system, it will repair it. Interesting

extensions of this architecture would be the ability to add

fabricator nodes when required and the ability to add entire

ranks when required. This sort of system would be a useful

compone!it of a self-replicating system (used in space exploration).

8106 Bondarev, A. A., et. al., "Welding of aluminum Alloy 1201 by

Solar Radiant Energy". Kosmicheskie Issledovaniia na Ukraine,

n. 15, p. 34-31. (In Russian)
A 57

The feasibility of welding aluminum alloys by employing concentrated radiant energy of the sun has been investigated experimentally using a 2000-mm diameter concentrator with a focal

length of 864 mm and an aperture angle of 120 deg. Short welds

of uniform quality were obtained for aluminum specimens up to

2 mm thick at a welding speed of not more than 4 m/hr. However,

the quality of longer welds was unsatisfactory. In all cases,

the mechanical properties of the weld metal were significantly

lower than those of the base metal. Although the use of solar

radiant energy for welding aluminum alloys is shown to be possible

in principle, the need for further research is emphasized.

8107 Freitas, R. A., Zachary, W. 8., "A Self-Replicating, Growing

Lunar Factory". In Space Manufacturing 4: Proceedings of the

5th Conference, Princeton, N.J., May !8-21, 1981, p. 109-119.

The proposed growing lunar manufacturing facility (LMF) demonstrating self-replicating system unit growth is intended as a

fully automatic general-purpose factory which expands to some

predetermined adult size starting from a relatively tiny (100 ton)

'seed' initially deposited on the lunar surface. This seed, once

deployed on the moon, is circular in shape, thus providing the

smallest possible perimeter/ surface area ratio and minimizing

interior transport distances. The IMF platform is divided into

two identical halves, each consisting of three major production

subsystems: the chemical processing sector accepts raw lunar

materials, extracts needed elements, and prepares process chemicals and refractories for factory use; the fabrication sector

converts these substances into manufactured parts, tools, and

electronics components, and the assembly sector assembles fabricated parts into complex working machines or useful products of

any conceivable design. A mission scenario, operational phases,

and productivity of the facility are briefly considered, and

quantitative materials closure in the baseline lunar replicating

design is briefly discussed.
A 58

1982

8201 Hoffineister, H., Rudiger, J., "Welding Under Space Conditions -

The Existing State of Knowledge, (Schweissen unter Weltraumbedingungen)". Schweissen and Schneiden, V. 34, n. 9, Sept. 1982,

p. 441-445 (English translation of text p. E171-E172).

Possible ways of welding under space conditions are discussed

with reference to the existing state of knowledge. The effect of

very low gravitation (micrograviation) on molten phases during

welding is considered, in particular its effect on the stability

of the weld pool and on metal transfer during arc welding. The

directions to be followed by future work are indicated.

8202 Bathke, W., Siegfried, E., "Brazing Under Reduced Gravity as Part

of the Spacelab Utilization Program Space Shuttle - Spacelab and

the Aims of the Experiments, (Loten under Verminderter

Schwerkraft...)". Schweissen and Schneiden, V. 34, n. 5, May

1982, p. 249-251 (English translation of text p. E99-E100).

The authors review the Space Shuttle/Spacelab space flight system

and the targets set for brazing experiments under low gravity.

The results of these experiments can be expected to yield further

information on the processes which actually take place during

brazing.

1??i:3 Bathke, W., Siegfried, E., "Brazing Under Reduced Gravity as Part

of the Spacelab Utilization Program - Brazing Experiments for the

First Spacelab Mission, (Loten un Verminderter Schwerkraft...)".

Schweissen and Schneider, V. 34, n. 7, July 1982, p. 336-337

(English translation of text p. E135).

After a review of the aims of the brazing trials to be carried

out as part of the Spacelab program, the specimens and the work

which is currently going on are described. The parent metal is

nickel and the brazing metal an alloy of silver and copper.

Measurements being taken in experiments are intended to provide

information on the characteristics of the heat source used. They

will also be used as a basis for deciding on the parameters for

the automatic temperature control.

8204 Bathke, W., Siegfried, E., "Brazing Under Reduced Gravity as Part

of the anacelab Utilization Pre igam-Brazing During a Rocket Flight,

(Loten unter Verminderter Schwerkraft ... )". Schweissen and

Schneiden, V. 34, n. 8, Aug. 1982, p. 385-387 (English translation of text p. E151-E152).
Trials of the brazing of nickel tubes during a ballistic rocket

flight, and the results obtained, are reported. The test demonstrated the suitability of brazing for use in a resistance-heated

apparatus under micro-gravitation. Also, the capillary brazing

of tubes with a crescent-shaped annular gap showed that a very

wide gap could be filled.

8205 Blankenship, C. P., Tenney, D. R., "Materials Technology for

Large Space Structures". Proceedings of the AFSOR Special Conference on Prime-Power for High Energy Space Systems, V. 2.

Several of the key material technology needs that were identified

for large space structures are outlined. They include lightweight structural materials, materials durability in the space

environment, and some special aspects of materials fabrication

technology. Examples of current materials research directed

toward large space structures are described. Additional research

needs and opportunities are noted. A short bibliography is

included of selected references that describe large space structural concepts and related technology needs in detail.

8206 "Space Fabrication Demonstration System Composite Beam Cap Fabricator (Final Report)". Under contract NAS8-32472 to Grumman

Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.

A detailed design for a prototype, composite beam cap fabricator

was established. Inputs to this design included functional tests

and system operating requirements. All required materials were

procured, detail parts were fabricated, and one composite beam

cap forming machine was assembled. The machine was demonstrated

as a stand-alone system. Two 12-foot-long beam gap members were

fabricated from laminates graphite/polysulfane or an equivalent

material. One of these members, which as structurally tested in

axial compression, failed at 490 pcunds.

8207 Meintel, A. J., Schappell, R. T., "Remote Orbital Servicing

System Concept". In NASA Johnson Space Center Satellite Service

Workshop, V. 2, p. 104-119.

Increased applications of automation technology identified as

necessary for NASA to carry out its missions within the constraints of future funding and available physical resources are

described. A concept for a Remote Orbital Servicing System

(ROSS) based on present teleoperator and robotics technology is

presented. A single servicer design compatible with three specified spacecraft capable of performing service to the same extent

as manned extravehicular activity, controlled from a ground

control station, and using currently available technology is

conceptualized.

.;
A GO

8208 Miller, R. H., Minsky, M. L., Smith, D. B. S., "Space Applications of Automation, Robotics, and Machine Intelligence Systems

(ARAMIS)". Under contract NASB-34381 to MIT Space Systems Laboratory, Cambridge, Ma.

Volume 1, Executive Summary:

Potential applications of automation, robotics, and machine

intelligence systems (ARAMIS) to space activities, and to their

related ground support functions are explored. The specific

tasks which will be required by future space projects are identified. ARAMIS options which are candidates for those space project

tasks and the relative merits of these options are defined and

evaluated. Promising applications of ARAMIS and specific areas

for further research are identified. The ARAMIS options defined

and researched by the study group span the range from fully human

to fully machine, including a number of intermediate options

(e.g., humans assisted by computers, and various levels of teleoperation). By including this spectrum, the study searches for

the optimum mix of humans and machines for space project *_asks.

Volume 2, Space Projects Overview:

Applications of automation, robotics, and machine intelligence

systems (ARAMIS) to space activities, and their related ground

support functions are studied so that informed decisions can be

made on which aspects of ARAMIS to develop. The space project

breakdowns, which are used to identify tasks ('functional elements'), are described. The study m •,.thod concentrates on the

production of a matrix relating space project tasks to pieces of

ARAMIS.

Volume 3, ARAMIS Overview:

An overview of automation, robotics, and machine intelligence

systems (ARAMIS) is provided. Man-machine interfaces, classification, and capabilities are considered.

Volume 4, Application of ARAMIS Capabilities to Space Project

Functional Elements:

Applications of automation, robotics, and machine intelligence

systems (ARAMIS) to space activities and their related ground

support functions are studied, so that informed decisions can be

made on which aspects of ARAMIS to develop. The specific tasks

which will be required by future space project tasks are identified and the relative merits of these options are evaluated. The

ARAMIS options defined and researched span the range from fully
A 61

human to fully machine, including a number of intermediate options (e.g., humans assisted by computers, and various levels of

x teleoperation). By including this spectrum, the study searches

for the optimum mix of humans and machines for space project

tasks.

Volume 4, Supplement, Appendix 4.3: Candidate ARAMIS Cap-

` abilities:

r

Potential applications of automation, robotics, and machine

e

intelligence systems (ARAMIS) to space activities, and to their

related ground support functions, in the years 1985-2000, so that

NASA may make informed decisions on which aspects of ARAMIS to

develop. The study first identifies the specific tasks which

will be required by future space projects. It then defines

x ARAMIS options which are candidates for those space project

z tasks, and evaluates the relative merits of these options.

o- Finally, the study identifies promising applications of ARAMIS,

and recommends specific areas for further research. The ARAMIS

options defined and researched by the study group span the range

from fully human to fully machine, including a number of inter-

` mediate options (e.g., humans assisted by computers, and various

levels of teleoperation). By including this spectrum, the study

searches for the optimum mix of humans and machines for space

project tasks.
APPENDIX B

PRESENT STATUS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF

"1NSTAMATIC®" WELDING SYSTEMS

N^
B1

OPMENTS ON "INSTAMATICm " WELDING SYSTEMS

r,ost or me n.i.z. research on I instamaticei welding systems has been

directed toward marine applications under dry and wet conditions.

Research on underwater welding at M.I.T. began in 1968, when Professor

Masubuchi joined the faculty. The research effort has been to meet

the growing demand for reliable techniques for construction, maintenance

and repair of marine structures, especially offshore oil drilling rigs.

In 1962, there were only 62 offshore oil drilling rigs in the world.

By 1978, that number had increased to 470. There is a trend toward

building an increasing number of different types of offshore structures

in deeper and deeper waters.

Host of the underwater welding research at M.I.T. has been supported

by the Office of Sea Grant, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA) of the Department of Commerce, through the M.I.T. Sea Grant

College Program. The research effort has been carried out under the

following projects:

111 "Fundamental Research on Underwater Welding and Cutting",

July 1971 through June 1974

112 "Development of New, Improved Techniques of Underwater

Welding", July 1974 through December 1976

113 "Development of Joining and Cutting Techniques for Deep-Sea

Applications", July 1976 through June 1980

114 "Development of Fully Automated and Integrated ("Instamatic e ")

Welding Systems for Marine Applications", July 1980 through

June 1982

115 "Underwater Welding and Cutting by Remote Manipulation

Techniques", a three-year program which started in July 1982.

Results obtained in these projects have been published in a number

of theses, reports, and papers. A total of 23 theses and students reports

have been prepared; they are listed in Section B.4 of this APPENDIX as
a2

(T1) through (T23). Also, 26 publications have been presented listed

in Section B.5 as (P1) through (P26). Two U.S. patents (Pll, P15)

have been granted, and another patent application has been filed (M).

Details of the results obtained in the four projects that were completed, are presented in (P9), (P13), (P19), and (P25).

The original idea of "instamatic ® " welding was developed during

the research project (113) on joining and cutting techniques for deep-sea

applications. The effort was continued during the next project (114) to

develop "instamatic® " welding sy stems for marine applications under both

dry and wet conditions. Under the current research project 05), efforts

are being made to develop techniques for underwater welding and cutting

by remote manipulation. The research efforts to date can be classified

into the following two groups:

(1) Development of underwater stud welding systems

(2) Development of "instamatic® " arc welding systems.

n

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B.2 DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERWA'T'ER STUD WELDING SYSTEMS

Conventional stud welding equipment consists of a stud gun, an

electric controller, and a D.C. power source. To make a weld, the

operator selects welding parameters, loads a stud into the gun, presses

it against the work surface, and pulls the trigger. the electric

controller then controls the sequence of the welding process according to

pre-determined settings. Further details of stud welding and its possible

uses in apace are described in APPENDIX C.

Because of the simplicity of this process, M.I.T. researchers have

been interested in underwater applications of stud welding since 1974.

The first underwater experiments of stud welding were performed by

Zanca (T8) using a capacitor-discharge stud 1relding. A U.S. patent on

an underwater stud welding gun was granted to Mesubuchi and Kutsuna

(Pll). All later experiments performed by China (T6), Kataoka (T17),

Scheckter (T18), and Schloerb (T20) have used arc stud welding in order

to weld large-diameter studs up to 19 mm (3/4 inch) in diameter. All

experiments have been performed on steel studs. A paper presented at

the 1983 Offshore Technology Conference (P25) discusses results obtained

by Schloerb, who designed and built a diver-operated underwater stud

welding system. Efforts are currently being made (Project 05) to

further develop stud welding systems which could be remotely operated

from an underwater vehicle.

Figure B-1 is a schematic diagram of the final design by Schloerb

(T20), showing key features of the gun. A diesel stud welding generator,

a controller, and a trigger switch which activates the welding operation,

are located above water. The switch is incorporated in a knife switch,

which assures that electric power to the stud gun is only on when a

weld is actually being made. The knife switch is operated by the

diver's tender on command from the diver. An electrical umbilical

connects the surface equipment to the submersible arc stud welding gun.

The heart of the stud gun is the stud lifting mechanism, This

mechanism lifts the stud a predetermined distance in order to produce a

TP
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DIESEL STUD NELDING GENERATOR

CONTROLLER CONTROL LEAD

I fe/O HOT LEAD

SHIELD

LIFTING

ANISM

HIELD

HUCK

ERRULE

AGNETIC BASE

'ORK SURFACE

FIGURE B-1 Diver-operated underwater arc stud system

developed by Schloerb
p

B 5

n•

precise arc gap between the end of the stud and the surface of the workt

wf

piece. The force to lift the stud is generated by a solenoid which is

activated by the control unit. The control unit initiates the welding

arc at the same time as the stud is lifted. The end of the stud and a

portion of the work surface melt due to the intense heat of'the arc.

After a pre-determined time, the control unit stops the arc and de- l

energizes the solenoid. At this point, a spring forces the stud back

against the work surface. A disposable ceramic collar, called the

ferrule, is held in place around the base of the stud to prevent weld

splatter. The molten metal solidifies quickly leaving the stud welded

to the work surface. In order to successfully achieve stud welding,

the stud must be securely held in place in the direction perpendicular M

to the work surface. In order to accomplish this in water, a system of

magnets which can be electrically activated is used.

The machine developed by Schloerb worked satisfactorily under both

dry and wet conditic . is . ^ 1

^^ 

PI 

I 

C' ^ ap
a

q „ B 6

IB.3 DEVELOPMENT OF "INSTAMATIC® " ARC WELDING SYSTEMS

So far, two "instamatic09 V1 welding systems have been built and

tested. The one which can join a flat plate to a flat plate by fillet

welding (Type 3 joint shown in Figure 2-3c) uses flux-shielded arc

process. The other, which can perform lap welding a cover plate to a

flat plate (Type 5 joint shown in Figure 2-3e), uses gas metal arc

process. Both systems performed satisfactorily in laboratory conditions.

Lombardi (T19), who studied an improved method for underwater

welding, developed an enclosed unit for joining a flat plate to a flat

plate by fillet welding using the flux-shielded process. The original

idea of using the submerged arc process for underwater welding was

developed by Tsai (T13), who studied methods for preventing rapid

quenching of underwater welds. Masubuchi and Tsai (P15) obtained a

U.S. patent on underwater submerged arc welding. Figure B-2 is a conceptual design developed by Lombardi of an underwater welding box which

may be used under either wet or dry conditions. The device has been

built and tested under dry conditions. No tests under wet conditions

have yet been made.

The welding box shown in Figure B-2 contains a welding machine

' consisting of a motorized carriage which simultaneously provides the

consumable electrodes fed into two torches. These electrodes are

connected via cables to the power supply which is not shown here. A

plate to be welded is placed securely between the torches, parallel to

the line of travel. Stainless steel foil molded at the base of the

plate holds the shielding flux and keeps it dry. The mechanical parts

^. of the machine are enclosed by a bottomless metal frame. The rim of

the open face of the frame is lined with a thick rubber strip to

provide a means of attachment to a steel surface.

Operation of the machine is simple. The motor and torches are

(( activated by merely pushing one button. The arc, being of high temperature, will burn through the foil and can be maintained within the

E

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B7

ON PIPE

TO

LDED

FIGURE B-2 Conceptual design of an automatic underwater welding

machine developed by Lombardi
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3

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ORIGINAL PAGE Ig

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NO

I I G

JELDING GUN

,ARTRIDGE

WORK PIECE

FIGURE B-3 Sketch of an automatic welding system developed by

Gustin capable of joining a circular patch to a flat plate
f.w

X

(a) A GMAW gun is mounted on a shaft so that rotation of the

shaft causes the gun to transverse the desired circular

path.

(b) A cartridge holder is mounted concentrically on the shaft.

The cartridge holder accepts the patch to be welded and

mechanically positions the patch against the workpiece.

A bearing component of the cartridge holder allows the

shaft to rotate without requiring holder rotation.

(c) The enclosure shown provides structural 'support for the

other components.

B 9 1

shielding flux. As the torches pass along the intersections of the two

plates, a double fillet weld is produced. The cartridge automatically

stops after the full length of the plate has been traveled. After

welding is completed, the frame is removed from the workpiece. The

plate is left welded to the workpiece.

Gustin (T21) continued the work started by Lombardi. However,

Gustin's work differs from that of Lombardi in the following ways:

(1) Gustin's work is primarily directed toward developing a

machine to be used in air, while Lombardi's work was

aimed at developing a machine to be used underwater;

(2) Gustin decided to use gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process

which is easier to control than flux-shielded process; and,

(3) Regarding the joint design,Gustin decided to w.,rk on lap

welding of a circular plate to a flat plate,

Gustin designed and constructed a device capable of welding a

circular "cartridge" of low-carbon steel to a base plate of similar

material. Figure D-3 shows the schematic of the design which can be

summarized as follows:

L

41

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l
B 10

I

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t

fY

7.

I.

I

a

F

B.4 M.I.T. THESES AND STUDENT REPORTS ON UNDERWATER WELDING

(T1) Staub, J.A., "Temperature Distribution in Thin Plate Welded Underwater," M.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Naval Architecture and

Marine Engineering, June 1971.

(T2) Brown, A.J., "Methods of Research in Underwater Welding", B.S.

Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Naval Architecture and Marine

Engineering, June 1971.

(T3) Anderssen, A.H., "Underwater Application of Exothermic Welding,"

M.S. and Ocean Engineer Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean

Engineering, June 1972.

(T4) Meloney, M.D., "The Properties of Underwater Welded Mild Steel

and High-Strength Steel Joints," M.S. and Ocean Engineer Thesis,

M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering, June 1973.

(T5) Brown, R.T., "Current Underwater Welding Technologies," M.S. Thesis,

M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering, June 1974.

(T6) Renneker, S.L., "An Investigation of Underwater Welded HY-80 Steel,"

M.S. and Ocean Engineer Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean

Engineering, June 1974.

(T7) Moore, A.P., "Metals Joining in the Deep Ocean," M.S. and Ocean

Engineer Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering, June 1975.

(T8) Zanca, L.M., "Underwater Stud Welding," M.S. Thesis, M.I.T.,

Department of Ocean Engineering, August 1975.

(T9) Dalvi, C.M., "Mechanical Properties of Underwater Weld," M.S.

Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering, May 1976.

(T10) Naiman, J., "Effect of Coated Electrode Type on Hydrogen Cracking in

Underwater Welds," B.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Materials

Science and Engineering, May 1976.

(Tll) Metaa, A.R., "Underwater Welding - An Investigation on Differential

Heat Loss in the Shielded Metal Arc Process," M.S. Thesis, M.I.T.,

Department of Ocean Engineering, February 1977.

(T12) Chica, J., "Fundamental Study of Underwater Arc Stud Welding",

M.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering, May 1977.
B 11 I

.1

(T13) Tsai, C.L., "Parametric Study of Cooling Phenomena in Underwater .r

Welding," Ph.D. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering,

September 1977.

:J

(T14) Prasad, S., "Development of Techniques for Deep-Sea Welding

Simulations and Study," M.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean

Engineering, February 1978.

(T15) Erickson, D.P., "Underwater Welding in Deep Sea," M.S. and Ocean '1

Engineer Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering, June 1978. t!

(T16) Iimura, 0., "Underwater Fabrication and Constuction Systems,"

i

M.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering, June 1978.

(T17) Kataoka, T., "Applications of Arc Stud Welding for Deep-Sea

Salvage Operations," M.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean T'

Engineering, June 1978.

(T18) Scheckter, P.C., "Applications of Arc Stud Welding Process to Deep- aj

Sea Conditions, Undergraduate Student Project Report, M.I.T., t

Department of Ocean Engineering, May 1979. r

(T19) Lombardi, J., "Design and Construction of an Automatic Welding C..

Machine", M.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Ocean Engineering,

a

May 1980.

-^

(T20) Schloerb, D.W., "Development of a Diver Operated Underwater Arc

Stud Welding System", M.S. Thesis,-Department of Mechanicali.

Engineering, January 1982.

(T21) Gustin, H.L., "Cartridge-Based Packaging of Automatic Welding

k

Systems", M.S. Thesis, M.I.T., Department of Mechanical Engineering,

February 1982. ?^

(T22) Geary, J.F., Johnson, F.C., Lindgren, L.O., and Reid, P.A.,

"Questionnaire and Forecasts: Underwater Stud Welding Gun" a

report prepared as a partial fulfillment for Subject 15.828 .^

Marketing New Products, December 1982.

(T23) Leibowitz, B.M., "Evaluation of the M.I.T. Instamati ® Welding

System" a report as a partial fulfillment for Subject 3.36J/13.17J

Welding Engineering, December 1982.!
(P1)

(P2)

i

(P3)

(P4)

(P5)

(P 6)

(P7)

(P8)

(P9)

1.°., (P10)

(P11)

1

B 12

{

B.5 M.I.T. PUBLICATIONS ON UNDERWATER WELDING

Masubuchi, K., Materials for Ocean Engineering, M.I.T. Press,

May 1970.

Masubuchi, K., "Underwater Thermit Welding of 50-Ton Padeye",

Final Report under Contract N0011-71-C-0188, to Boston Naval

Shipyard and Office of the Navy Supervisor of Diving, Salvaging

and Ocean Engineering, Naval Ship System Command, M.I.T.,

October 1971.

Brown, A., Staub, J.A., and Masubuchi, K., "Fundamental Study of

Underwater Welding", Paper No. OTC 1621, Offshore Technology

Conference, 1972.

Masubuchi, K., and Anderssen, A.H., "Underwater Application of

Exothermic Welding", Paper No. 1910, Offshore Technology Conference,

1973.

Brown, R.T., and Masubuchi, K., "Latest Developments in Underwater

Welding Technologies", Underwater Journal, Vol. 5, No. 5, 1973.

Masubuchi, K., and Meloney, M.B., "Underwater Welding of Low-Carbon

and High-Strength HY-80 Steel", Paper No. OTC 1951, Offshore

Technology Conference, 1974.

Brown, A.J., Brown, R.T., Tsai, C.L., and Masubuchi, K., "Fundamental

Research on Underwater Welding", Report No. MITSG 74-29, M.I.T.

Sea Grant Program, September 1974.

Masubuchi, K., "Underwater Welding and Cutting", MIS Journal,

Vol. 9, No. 1, January 1975, pp. 32-37.

Brown, R.T., and Masubuchi, K., "Fundamental Research on Underwater

Welding - Effect of Water Environment on Metallurgical Structures

of Welding", The Welding Journal, Vol. 54, No. 6, Research

Supplement, pp. 178-s to 188-s, June 1975.

Moore, A.P., and Masubuchi, K. "Metals Joining in the Deep-Ocean

paper presented at the 1975 National Meeting of the Marine Technc

Society, San Diego, California, September 1975.

Masubuchi, K., and Kutsuna, M., U.S. Patent 113,989,920 "Underwate

Stud Welding Gun", November 2, 1976.
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(P12) Tsai, C.L., and Masubuchi, K., "Interpretive Report on Underwater

Welding", Welding Research Council Bulletin 224, February 1977,

Welding Research Council, New York, NY, pp. 1-37,

(P13) Tsai, C . L., Ozaki, H., Moore, A.P., Zanca, L . M., Prasad, S., and

Masubuchi, K., "Development of New, Improved Techniques for

Underwater Welding", Report No. MITSG 77-9, M.I.T. Sea Grant

Program, April 1977.

(P14) Ozaki, H., Naiman, J., and Masubuchi, K., "A Study of Hydrogen

Cracking in Underwater Steel Welds", The Welding Journal, Vol. 56

No. 8, Research Supplement 231s to 237s, August 1977.

(P15) Masubuchi, K., and Tsai, C.L., U.S. Patent #4,069,408 "Method and

Apparatus for Underwater Submerged Are Welding", January 17, 1978.

(P16) Masubuchi, K., Ozaki, H., and Chiba, J., "Underwater Stud Welding",

Oceans '78, The Marine Technology Society and the Institute of

Electrical and Electronics Engineers, September 1978, 125-219.

(P17) Tsai, C.L., and Masubuchi, K., "Mechanisms of Rapid Cooling in

Underwater Welding", Applied Ocean Research, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1979,

99-110.

(P18) Tsai, C.L., and Masubuchi, K., "Mechanisms of Rapid Cooling and

their Design Considerations in Underwater Welding", Offshore

Technology Conference, May 1979, OTC3469, 973-980 and Journal of

Petroleum Technology, October 1980, pp. 1825 - 1833.

(P19) Masubuchi, K., "Development of Joining and Cutting Techniques for

Deep -Sea Application", Report No. MITSG 81-2, M.I.T. Sea Grant

Program, June 1981.

(P20) Masubuchi, K., "Underwater Factors Affecting Welding Metallurgy",

Underwater Welding of Offshore Platforms and Pipelines, Welding

Technology Series, American Welding Society, Miami, Florida, 1981,

pp. 81-98.

(P21) A letter from M.I . T. Patent, Copywright 6 Licensing Office to

National Sea Grant College Program regarding disclosure of an

invention entitled "Diver Operated Underwater Arc Stud Welding

System" by David Schloerb and Koichi Masubuchi, July 15, 1982.
B 14

(P22) Masubuchi, K., and Papazoglou, V.J., "Automation in Underwater

Welding", Proceedings of the Third International Conference on

BEHAVIOR OF OFF-SHORE STRUCTURES, Cambridge, MA, August 1982,

Vol. 2, pp. 756-766, Hemisphere Publishing Corp., Washington/

New York/London.

(P23) Masubuchi, K., and Papazoglou, V.J., "Automation Introduced to

Underwater Welding", Offshore, February 1983, pp. 88-93.

(P24) Masubuchi, K., and Papazoglou, V.J., "Automating Underwater

Welding", Ocean Industry, May 1983, pp. 10-12.

(P25) Masubuchi, K., Schloerb, D.W., and Gustin, H.L., "Development of

Fully Automated and Integrated ("Instamatic') Welding Systems for

Marine Applications", OTC 4601, Offshore Technology Conference,

Houston, Texas, May 1983.

(P26) Masubuchi, K., Gaudiano, A.V., and Reynolds, T.J., "Technologies

and Practices of Underwater Welding", Proceedings Df the International

Conference on Underwater Welding held in Trondheim, Norway, June

27-28, 1983, published on behalf of the International Institute

of Welding by Pergamon Press, Oxford/New York, pp. 49-70.

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APPENDIX C

A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE FEASIBILITY

b OF USING STUD WELDING IN SPACE

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C.1 INTRODUCTION

The stud welding process was originally developed for the shipbuiLung

industry in the late 1930'x, as a means of joining wooden planks to the - yy

4

steel deck plates of a ship. Cl

The major benefits of the then novel

' joining process was an increase in productivity, and the development off

a joining process which did not require a through-hull penetrator to

fasten wooden planking to the deck of newly constructed ships. The preservation of the watertight integrity, and the development of a reliable

@ structural joint prived to be a great advantage in maintaining the sea-,

` worthiness of ships.

6r ! 

The stud welding systems commercially available are completely

automated. After specific adjustments have been made to the stud gum. ;j 

the only thing that an operator must do to weld a stud is to hold the dun 

perpendicularly to the workpiece and pull the rigger. All other operations

^ necessary to achieve a quality weld are performed by a control box.

1 Today, stud welding is used in many different applications, from r"^ 

JJ automobiles to various types of appliances, bridges, and railroad cars. 

In the offshore industry, stud welding has been used to attach anodes

for cathodic protection to undersea structures. Researchers at M.I.'T.

have been studying underwater uses of stud welding. They are currently

working on a research project which has the objective of developing rt

an underwater stud welding system which may be operated remotely.

M.I.T. researchers believe that stud welding can be successfully

used in space with minimal additional research and development. In

fact, they believe that it is possible to develop completely integrated

and automated stud welding systems which can be either remotely manspuleted or operated by an astronaut with no welding skill.
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F C.2 STUD WELDING PROCESS3S

Stud welding is a general term for joining a metal stud or similar F,

part to a workpiece, according to the Welding Handbook. C2 Welding can

be achieved by a number of processes including arc, resistance, friction,

and percussion. Of these processes, stud arc welding is the most widely

used.

In stud arc welding, an electric arc is produced between the end

of a stud and the workpiece. When the surfaces to be joined are properly

heated, they are brought together under pressure. The stud arc welding

can be classified into two types, depending upon the power supply used.

In are stud welding, D.C. power sources similar to those used for

shielded metal arc welding are used. In the capacitor-discharge stud

welding, a capacitor storage bank is used to supply the arc power.

Arc stud welding is suited for welding large-diameter studs up to

approximately 32 mm in diameter, while capacitor-discharge stud welding

is suited for welding small-diameter studs up to approximately 10 mm

in diameter to thin sheets. We believe that most applications of space

stud welding will be to weld small-diameter studs to thin sheets because:

(1) Most space structures will be fabricated with thin sheets of

light metals, and

(2) Because of the extremely low-gravity in space,loads which

will be applied to the stud welded joints will be small.

Therefore, it has been decided that discussions here should cover primarily

capacitor-discharge stud welding. The basic technology discussed here,

however, can be applicable to arc stud welding.

C.2.1. Capacitor-Discharge Stud Welding.

Capacitor-discharge stud welding uses the heat from as; arc produced

by the rapid discharge of a capacitor. A thin film of molten metal is

formed on the end of the stud and on the workpiece adjacent to the stud.

The stud is then forced into the molten puddle of metal, which extinE r
C 3

p1,

guishes the arc and completes the weld. Flux is not needed in welding

steel; argon shielding sometimes is used in welding aluminum alloys by

the drawn-arc method. The welding system consists of a capacitor discharge stud welding gun, a control box, a capacitor bank, and a suitable

weld cable and ground leads. +

There are three methods of capacitor-discharge stud welding: the

initial-gap, initial-contact, and drawn-arc methods. Figures C-1 through

C-3 show sequences and steps in these three methods. C3 Further detailed• it

descriptions of these methods may be obtained in several publications

including the Welding HandbookC2 and the Metals Handbook. C3

The initial-gap and initial-contact methods have a weld time of 3

to 6 milliseconds, which prevents heat build up and permits welding of

fasteners about 4 mm in diameter to a steel base metal as thin as 0.8 mm.

Teflon coating on the inner surface of 1 mm-thick aluminum pans is not i] 

damaged when studs are welded to the outer surface. Small fastener

component cups made of low-carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy,

or copper alloy have been welded to various base metals. O

The drawn-arc method uses an arc time of 6 to 12 milliseconds, which

is longer than those of the initial-gap and initial-contacts methods. The

drawn-arc method is better suited for base metals that have rust, mill

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scale, or surface irregularities, than the initial-contact or initial-gap Y` 

method.

Welding currents used in these methods also differ. The drawn-arc ^^

capacitor-discharge method uses 600 to 3,000 amperes, while the initialgapand initial-contact methods use 2,500 to 20,000 amperes. Weld base t{

diameter dictates the actual desired current flow with current densities

on the order'of 450 amp/mm2 (300,000 amp/in2 ) required for aluminum studs.

The primary advantages of the capacitor-discharge stud welding over the

arc stud welding, are low energy input (115 Volts A.C.) and shallow

penetration of the base metal.

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CC4

ORIGINAL PAGE 19

OF POOR QUALI T Y

ST WORKPIECE BOND

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• STUD TIP

STUD FACE

(a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) The stud is initially positioned above the workpiece.

(b) When the unit is triggered, the stud holder is released and plunges

the stud to the workpiece with the capacitor-discharge voltage

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impressed on the stud. When the stud tip contacts the workpiece,

welding current starts to slow and an arc is formed.

(c) The tip disintegrates when it contacts the workpiece. Arcing between

the stud and the workpiece melts the face of the stud and the workpiece

surface opposite the stud face to a very shallow depth.

(d) The stud is plunged into the puddle of molten metal, to complete the weld.

FIGURE C-1 Sequence of steps in initial-gap capacitor-discharge stud

welding (Metals Handbook(C3))

STUD WORKPIECE BOND

LINE

STUD TIP

( a )

(a) The stud is initially in contact with the workpiece.

(b) When the welding current is turned on, the tip softens and

disintegrates, and the arc is initiated.

(c) Arcing between the stud and the workpiece melts the face of the stud

and the workpiece surface opposite the stud face to a very shallow

depth.

(d) The stud is plunged into the puddle of molten metal, by spring

pressure, to complete the weld.

FIGURE C-2 Sequence of steps in initial-contact capacitor-discharge

stud welding (Metals Handbook(C3))

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( a ) (b) (c) (d)

(a) The stud is initially in contact with the workpiece.

(b) When the current is turned on the current surges into the stud tip,

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and the stud is then immediately raised, to draw the arc The heat 

of the arc melts the face of the stud and the workpiece surface

opposite the stud face to a very shallow depth.

(c) When the welding current is turned off, the solenoid in the gun is {

f de-energized and the stud plunges into the puddle of molten metal. "I

(d) Finished weld, with little or no fillet. 

l j^ f FIGURE C-3 Sequence of steps in drawn-arc capacitor-discharge stud 

welding (Metals Handbook(C3))

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C3 C.2.2. Arc Stud Welding

Figure C-4 shows the sequence of steps in arc stud welding. The arc

^. stud welding process is fundamentally the same as the drawn-arc

capacitor-discharge method. Both processes require that an arc be drawn

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from an initial contact with the workpiece. After arc initiation, the

form of energy input is different between the two processes. The arc

stud process uses a lower voltage and much lower current density than

as Y

those used in the capacitor-discharge process. For example, 30-35 volts

and 3,000 amperes may be used for welding aluminum alloy studs 12.5 mm

` (1/2 in.) in diameter, while the capacitor-discharge method is limited to

aluminum studs of 6.4 mm (1/4 in.,) or less in diameter. Because the

rate of energy discharge in arc stud welding is less than that in

capacitor-discharge stud welding, welding periods used in arc stud

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welding are much longer than those used in capacitor-discharge stud

welding. For example, welding periods of 0.25 to 0.7 second may be used

y. for welding aluminum studs.

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(a) First, the stud is located on the workpiece.

b) Force is applied so that the spring within the gun is compressed

until the ferrule is seated firmly on the workpiece.

r (c) When the welding current is turned on, the solenoid in the welding

gun is energized, the stud is automatically lifted, and an arc IN

between the face of the stud and the workpiece is initiated.

(d) With the stud in the lifted position, arcing spreads across the face

of the stud and the heat of the arc melts an area on the workpiece and

rf' produces a weld puddle under the stud, and also melts a small portion

of the face of the stud.

EEEE (e) When the welding current is stopped, the solenoid is de-energized and

'y the face of the stud is plunged, by spring pressure, into the weldI

puddle.

(f) Finished weld; note shape of fillet formed by the ferrule. y^

FIGURE C-4 Sequence of steps in arc stud welding(

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11
I C.4 POSSI.

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We believe that among the many welding processes which may be considered for use in space, stud welding is one of most promising, in terms

of potential for developing in a short time a workable hardware system

which can be remotely manipulated or operated by an astronaut with

little or no welding training. To accomplish this, however, we must

develop answers to various questions, some of which are listed below:

(1) Is it really possible to perform stud welding in space with

g * no air, no gravity, and a possibility of extreme temperatures?

(2) Can a stud welding process be delivered which can successfully weld 2000 series aluminum alloys at an acceptable

_ confidence level?

m(3) May the necessary electrical power for stud welding be

obtained from existing or planned power sources, or new

wmeans of power generation necessary to perform stud welding

in space?

(4) Which method of stud welding should be used for space

+4 applications?

These and a few other subjects which are important in developing space

stud welding systems are discussed in the following pages.

Q` C.4.1. Stud Welding in Space Environment.

s Table 4 in the main part of this report compares differences in

environments between space welding and ordinary welding on earth. The

environments in space welding arc characterized by:

(1) Zero gravity,

(2) Lack of air, unless welding is performed inside a space

station or a specially designed habitat.(Case 3 in Table 4),

and

(3) Extrema temperatures, when welding is performed outside

a space station (Case 1).

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C.4.1.1. Effects of Zero Gravity on Stud Welding. Although there has been

no published record of stud welding under zero gravity, there sould be no

difficulty in performing it. During stud welding there is practically no y

metal transfer between the electrode ( stud) and the base metal. Therefore,

the mechanisms of stud welding would be little affected by the presence,

or lack, of gravity, especially when capacitor-discharge process is used.

The Soviets have already found that spot welding is little affected by

gravity. (7201 1

 Experiments aboard an aircraft descending at a high speed

should prove whether or not it is possible to perform stud welding under

zero gravity.

C.4.1.2. Stud Welding in Vacuum._ There has been no publication which f

discusses whether or not it is possible to perform stud welding in vacuum.

Although we are optimistic about performing stud welding in vacuum, this

subject needs experimental verification.

Fortunately, the Department of Ocean Engineering has a pressure

tank which was originally designed to perform welding experiments,

including those of stud welding, under high pressure simulating hyperbaric welding underwater. This experimental set-up can be easily used

for stud welding in a vacuum. In fact we have already found that a

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vacuum of 1x10 1 Torr (13.33 N/m2 ) can be established.

Figure C-5 is a diagram of a proposed experimental set-up for !

studying the effects of a partial vacuum and low pressure inert gas

environment on the various stud welding methods. The intent of the ^1

system is to simulate the environment of space, disregarding the effects

of gravity and extreme temperature. -1

This set-up includes: A vacuum chamber in which the stud gun and

base metal are placed in a ready to weld position, the power supply and

control box to supply energy and vary the welding parameters, an

interfacing system to condition the signals chosen,for data acquisition

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for input to the laboratory computer,and the laboratory computer for

data storage, analysis, and potential control of the welding processes.

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We may find that the existence of a small amount of gas or a mixture

of gases facilitate initiation and maintenance of an arc necessary to

perform stud welding in a hard vacuum. If so, a simple device may be

developed to supply the needed gas. For example, the gas may be stored

in a small metal container, and the wall of the container may be

puncturedjust before welding, to supply the gas near the weld.

It is recommended that a research program be established with the

following objectives:

(1) Study whether or not it is possible to perform stud welding

in vacuum,

(2) If it is difficult to establish an arc in a hard vacuum,

study whether or not . the existence of a small amount of gas

or a mixture of gases would facilitate initiation and maintenance of the arc necessary to perform stud welding,

(3) If the above study is affirmative, study means to supply

the needed gas to the weld area when needed.

C.4.1.3. Stud Welding at Low Temperatures. Performing stud welding

at extremely low temperatures would not pose a serious problem,

especially when welding aluminum, unless metal surfaces are contaminated

by condensation of water vapor. Preheating of the workpiece, perhaps

by means of electric resistance heating, may be useful for obtaining goodquality welds.

C.4.2. Development of Suitable Stud Materials and Welding Conditions for

Stud Welding 2000 Series Aluminum Alloys.

Materials which are most likely to be used extensively in, space

structures are aluminum alloys, especially 2000 series alloys. Consequently, in order for stud welding to play any significant roles in

the construction, maintenance, and repair of a space station we must

be able to successfully perform stud welding of 2000 series aluminum

alloys. On the basis of the currently available information, stud

welding can be successfully performed on various types of aluminum

alloys. However, 2000 series aluminum alloys are difficult to join

by the stud welding processes. It is recommended that a research program

1

"I

I
be established with th

Develop alloy materials suitable for stud welding 2219 and

several other aluminum alloys likely to be extensively used

for space structures, and

then develop optimum welding conditions for stud welding

these aluminum alloys.

The experimental set-up shown in Figure C-5 may also be used to perform

this research.

C.4.3. Power Requirements and Selection of Stud Welding Methods,

One of the major potential problems in the adaptation of stud

welding in space is how to obtain the large instantaneous electric

power needed for stud welding. For example, if we were to weld an

aluminum stud 12 mm in diameter, we would have to use the arc stud

process using approximately 640 amperes and 35 volts or 22,400 watts.

However, the actual energy consumed is approximately 15,000 joules,

since the welding time is about 0.67 seconds. The power and energy

requirements are less for welding smaller-diameter studs.

It is recommended that the initial research effort be directed

toward welding small studs using the capacitor-discharge stud welding

process, which is capable of welding aluminum &:uds up to 6.4 mm

(1/4 in.) in diameter using a light weight power supply of which

approximate average characteristics are:

Capacitance: 40,000 Microfarad

Peak voltage: 200 volts

Weight: 30 kg.

In this research, no special effort has been made to determine exact

methods of obtaining the needed electric power. It is assumed that the

above mentioned power can be made available, perhaps by a system of

solar batteries.

E From the standpoint of operational simplicity, size, weight, and

required energy input, the initial-contact capacitor-discharge method

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is believed to be the best choice for initial studies of stud welding

7

in space. This method would provide us with workable hardware systems

in space with minimum time and cost for development. The gun utilized '1

in this system is the simplest of all the stud welding methods, and

does not require power to operate a solenoid which is needed in the -j

drawn arc stud welding. This further simplifies the control system.

In addition, the initial-contact method does not require shielding

gas when welding aluminum alloys.

However, we may find it advantageous in later stages to switch

to the drawn- arc capacitor-discharge method, when it become necessary

to perform stud welding in actual field conditions, in which metal

surfaces may be rough. Although the drawn arc method utilizes a

welding gun with a solenoid requiring a larger and heavier gun and a

more complex control system, the versatility of the gun is much greater. g

c.4.4. Importance of Surface Preparation in Stud Welding.

In order to successfully perform stud welding, it is very important

to have both the surface of the stud and the surface of the workpiece

clean and free of various foreign materials, including oxide films on

the metal surface, dust, moisture, grease, etc. The surface cleanliness

is especially critical in welding aluminum, because: pp

(1) An aluminum weld tends to have porosity, when hydrogen exists

i, I

in areas near the weld, and

(2) An aluminum plate is normally covered with a thin film of

aluminum oxides which is difficult to remove either mechanically

or chemically.

It has been well established that porosity due to hydrogen is the

major problem in welding aluminum alloys, as discussed in 2.5.2.of the

main part of this report. During the fabrication.of the huge fuel amH

oxidizer tanks installed in the Saturn V space vehicles, ex-ensive I^

studies were made on porosity in aluminum welds, especially those made

with the GTAW and the GNAW processes. It was found that the major 1^

sources of hydrogen that caused weld porosity were contaminants on the

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metal surface, rather than hydrogen in the shielding gas and hydrogen

contained in the filler metal and the base metal. A study was made to

find the best method of removing surface contaminants covering various

methods including wire brushing, and rinsing with different cleaning

agents. It was found that the best method was to remove by machining

° a thin layer of the metal surface before welding.

As opposed to arc welding processes, in which the welding arc

° travels as welding is completed, stud welding is stationary. Therefore,

it should be relatively easy to make sure that all potential sources of

hydrogen are removed from the weld area in stud welding. Since stud

welding is completed in a very short time, it is important to make sure

^. that surfaces to be joined are absolutely clean before welding operation

starts. We believe that the best method is to mechanically remove very

thin layers from both the stud and the base plate in areas near the wele

zone.

C.4.5. Control Systems for Stud Welding,

Today, control systems have become an indispensable part of

modern manufacturing, industrial, and construction processes. This fact

is a result of the considerable increase in reliability obtainable

through the successful implementation of a p,• operly designed control

i

system. The majority of conventional stud welding systems utilize

very simple but nonetheless effective open loop control systems. There

has been little demand or motivation to further the development of these

systems because the range of weld quality which is acceptable for normal

usage is so wide.

Initial investigations performed during this research, however,

have revealed that even though existing systems are quite reliable,

further development of control systems beyond existing levels may

significantly improve the reliability of the completed weld. Operatio

constraints, procedural mandates, and environmental factors imposed on

jvarious stud welding methods envisioned for use in space will demand t

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C 15

development of a more sophisticated control system in order to achieve

required levels of confidence. Such systems may be designed and

implemented using existing laboratory equipment and personnel at M.I.T.

Later, after successful laboratory testing has been completed, the

systems should be developed and packaged for field trials.

C.4.5.1. Control System Overview. Figure C-6 is a block diagram

of a control process for a fully integrated welding system. The basic

concept shown in this figure is applicable to any welding process,

although the emphasis of the discussion presented here is placed on

stud welding, especially capacitor-discharge stud welding.

The heavy horizontal lines show the progression of welding tasks

which take place during the overall welding cycle. The lighter lines

depict the flow of information input to the system from the weldment

design tasks as well as information sensed during different tasks in

the overall control process. At the heart of the overall control

system is the in-process control system. The closed-loop welding process

control system can be effectively used in such processes as arc welding

which are relatively slow.

However, in the case of capacity -discharge stud welding process in

which the welding time i,, only several milliseconds, it is not technically feasible to implement a practical closed-loop, in-process control

system. This fact has motivated the development of the various inprocess sensing systems shown in Figure C-6 to increase confidence

levels in the reliability of the final weld. The success of the overall

control system is dependent upon the processing of information sensed

during the pre -weld inspection, welding, and post-weld inspection

processes. This information, which is stored in the memory banks of

the computer- or microprocessor -based system during each process, is

then correlated with experimental data, also contained in memory, which

is known to have produced consistent reliable welds under identical

conditions. Comparative information formulated in this manner is then

analyzed and used to predict weldment reliability with a high level of

confidence. Such a system may be developed for any of the stud welding

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methods; this system may then be operated remotely, without human

intervention. Additional research work must be performed to substantiate

this thesis and to develop the necessary data base needed to implement r,t

the proposed system.

The goal of the overall control system is to prevent a defective

weld from being placed in service. This objective is not intended to

obscure the importance of high reliability in the actual welding process, {4

but to place primary importance on the prevention of an in-service

failure. A system of this design imposes a level of control on the .^

welding process which does not prevent the production of a bad weld, an 1j

occurrence which is uncontrollable, but ensures that such a weld is

detected and never placed in service, an occurrence which is controllable. "{r

C.4.5.2. In-Process Control System. Analysis of potential control

factors for the various stud welding processes has shown that:

T.

(1) Control of welding time is the only viable means of closedloop, in-process control,

(2) Weld energy input is the most important welding parameter

to control, and

(3) The development of a closed-loop control system is only

practical for the drawn arc stud welding method, and is

not feasible for any of the capacitive discharge methods.,

Figure C-7 depicts one segment of a closed-loop control system{

proposed for arc stud welding, of which welding time of 0.25 to 0.7

second may be long enough to exercise in-process control. The essential

thoughts behind the control process are described below. By sampling

arc voltage and arc current at a known rate of approximately one sample

per millisecond, weld input energy may be computed for each sampling

L•

period. By equating accumulated weld energy with a required, predetermined weld energy input at the end of each sampling period, closed- f`t`

loop control of weld energy input may be achieved. Minor fluctuations

of voltage and current detected during the welding process are then

compensated for by varying the actual welding time within established 1^

limits.

`„3 
C 18

BEGIN

MPLE

ARC VOLTAGE

ARC CURRENT

WELD INPUT ENERGY

= ARC VOLTAGE *

ARC CURRENT *

SAMPLE RATE

+ PREVIOUS WELD

INPUT ENERGY

ONLINE

STORAGE

OF DATA

4+ (WELD ENERGY INPUT EQUALS

NO 4+ DESIRED WELD ENERGY INPUT)

DECIS

YES

IN PROCESS

CONTROL

FIGURE C-7 In—process control system for

arc stud welding system
C 19

ORIGINAL PAGE 15

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It is possible to implement and test this control process in -a

simulated space conditions utilizing existing equipment at M.I.T. .^

The actual system could then be developed for field applications.

C.4.5.3. In-Process Sensing Systems. Initial investigation of the

various stud welding methods has shown that closed-loop, in-process

control is not a practical control method for all stud welding processes.

As a result, various methods of in-process sensing and control are

proposed and developed here.

a,

As stated previously, weld energy input is thought to be the most

important welding parameter to control during the welding process. In

addition to this parameter, stud displacement, or the movement of the

stud during he welding cycle, ( g g y , plays art equally important role in 

determining weld reliability. Stud displacement has two important

effects during the welding cycle. It affects arc voltage during the

arcing of the weld, and it shows the penetration of the stud into the

base metal when the stud is forced into the workpiece at the end of Ate 

cycle. It is our belief that the most promising means of predicting C]

weldment reliability from in-process information is through a correlation t I

of weld energy input and stud displacement with known, predetermined

? experimental data. Weld energy input does not have to be controlled

in-process for this approach to be valid,

The importance of surface conditions has been discussed in Section 

f 

t C.4.4.of this appendix. A cause and effect relationship is clear, in

that surface conditions can affect the characteristics of the welding

arc and hence the energy input and final weld. In addition., unfavora5lle

i

foreign materials may be entrained into the molten metal which may

reduce weld quality. It may be possible to sense unfavorable surface Y'

conditions before the welding process occurs. If unfavorable conditiam t

are found, the weld cycle would be terminated, and additional surface

r

preparation would be performed. It is felt that most unfavorable surface

conditions will tend to increase the ohmic contact resistance between the
I

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17

stud and the base plate. If this thesis can be substantiated through

experimentation,then a system can be developed and integrated into our

overall welding system, increasing the reliability of the final weld and

reducing the probability of producing an inferior quality weld.

The most important information about the final weld reliability is

gained from the post-weld inspection process. Some possible methods of

post-weld inspection are ultrasonic, acoustic emission, and tensile

loading of the completed weld. Results of a post-weld inspection task

such as tensile loading would form the basis for an accept/reject decision

on the weld. It is felt that the tensile loading test offers the greatest

promise because:

(1) It may be integrated into a properly designed gun, maintaining

the simplicity of the operation, and

(2) Tensile loading of an aluminum stud will tend to increase the

fatigue strength of the joint, enhancing weld quality.

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C 21

REFERENCES

Cl. Shoup, T.E., "Stud Welding", WRC Bulletin No. 214, Welding Research

Council, April 1976.

C2. Welding Handbook, Seventh Edition, American Welding Society, 1976-

present.

C3. Metals Handbook, Volume 6, Welding and Brazing, 8th Edition,

American Society for Metals, 1971.

C4. "Nelson Stud Welding", by TRW Nelson Division

C5. Welding Kaiser Aluminum, First Edition, Kaiser Aluminum and

Chemical Sales, Inc., 1867.
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APPENDIX D

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON

THE PERFORMANCE OF

REMOTELY MANIPULATED SPACE WELDING
l

D 17

D.1 INTRODUCTION

Y

The capability for remote unmanned construction and repair is a {^

prerequisite for large scale human utilization of outer space or deep

ocean. It also becomes necessary in such unconventional applications

as the repair of highly contaminated nuclear reactor components, or

work in other hazardous industrial environments. Furthermore, unmanned

r^

fabrication will become a necessity in the automated production lines ,.,

in the "factories of the future".

Remote fabrication or repair of large structures is a very complex

task, which requires significant advancements of the state of the art

in a number of different areas. In this study, however, we focus on

9

remotely manipulated metal joining technology in general, and welding

in particular. Welding is a relatively complicated manufacturing

^I

process but it is preferred over alternative joining techniques--such as

mechanical fastening or adhesive banding--due to the excellent mechanical pp

properties, high joining efficiency and air tightness that it can offer. r

One of the objectives of this NASA study is to identify the y

fundamental components of various joining tasks and to examine which e'

can or should be automated. The tasks that are more difficult to be 

effectively performed remotely and that disappropriately increase the

total completion time are more likely to be passed to a machine. However,

the current state of the art limits the extent of such automation and

thus there will still be some tasks that have to be performed manually.

Such sharing--and possibly trading--of control with tha computer is -'(

the fundamental characteristic of a supervisory controlled system, as t

described by Sheridan in (D1). ^E

As detailed previously in this study, welding fabrication usually

involves three basic steps:

(i) Preparation

(ii) Actual Welding Process Execution ^s

(iii) Inspection 
;F Qr D 2 

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s The most fundamental subtasks involved in these steps are:

(a) Manipulation of welding, cutting, grasping, or inspection

t

^. tools

?. (b) Selection of the process type and parameters

(c) Process Control

?. (d) Evaluation of joint quality

Different levels of automation are currently attainable for any of

the above mentioned subtasks depending on the nature of the process,

^ availability of information about the task, and capability of sensing

and actuation. In addition, remote operation imposes further problems,

such as limited sensing and/or manipulation capabilities, and 

I'

inflexibility of the man-machine interface. These limitations are

inherent in most telemanipulation applications. However, especially

for the case of remote telemanipulation in space, the additional problem

of transmission delay is introduced, due to the large distances involved.

This round trip time delay is composed of the time needed for a

` control command to travel to the teleoperator and for the first indication of response to travel back. This will be twice the distance

divided by the speed of propagation. The effects of a transmission delay

on teleoperation performance have been studied by various investigators.

At M.I.T. in particular, fundamental work in the area has been performed

by Sheridan and Ferrel (D2). They generally concluded that even complex

iy tasks could be accomplished by adopting a simple "move-and-wait"

strategy and observed no evidence of unstable motions or delay-induced

emotional stress.

The human performance during remote operation of some of the

elementary tasks involved in welding fabrication was investigated in

this study. In the confines of this initial investigation, however,

only the tool manipulation tasks were experimentally examined. Process

control, or evaluation of the joint quality have to be shared to an

A

o' extent with a machine and are inherently more difficult to be performed

iremotely.

E.
D 3

As was detailed in chapter 3 of this report, tool manipulation is

an important part of all the steps of remote fabrication (preparation,

actual process, and inspection) and can be further broken down to:

- Positioning of a tool at an arbitrary position and orientation

in space.

- Tracking of a two- or three-dimensional path at a constant speed

while keeping a constant distance and orientation to an arbitrary

surface.

Both remotely manipulated positioning and tracking were simulated,

and details and results of the performed experiments are presented in

the following sections of this appendix.
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I.

1.

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D4

D.2 EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

D.2.1. Experimental Setup and Equipment.

The remote manipulation simulation experiments reported here were

performed at the Man-Machine Systems Laboratory of the Mechanical

Engineering Department at M.I.T. The equipment used in the experiments

basically consisted of:

1. Manipulator system

- A Modified ANL E2 master/slave manipulator unit. Master

and slave arms are identical and have seven degrees of

freedom (six rotating joints plus grasping). A detailed

description of this system is given by Brooks. D3

- A PDP-11 3/4 computer running under the RSX operating

system. The computer was used both for the control of

the manipulator and for timing and data acquisition

operations. The computer control software and the manmachine interface were developed by Yoerger and are

described in detail in D4.

2. T.V. System

- Panasonic WV-1050 black and white TV camera fitted with.

a 12.5 mm lens.

- Panasonic CT-1900M Color TV monitor.

- ADAC System 1000 computer fitted with the QVC-120 and

QAF-120 DATACUBE video graphics cards. This system is

capable of controlling frame rate gray levels and

resolution of the picture.

D.2.2. Simulation Considerations.

1{ One of the major factors examined in this initial study was transmission delay. Transmission delay exists in both the feedforward and

I

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D5

the feedback transmission paths. However, for simplicity in the simulation, we can lump the total delay in the forward path only, as can be

readily seen in Figure D-1. These two situations are absolutely

equivalent, as far as the human operator is concerned.

In our experiments, the transmission delay is simulated by the

computer. The manipulator system is essentially under computer control,

but the positions commanded by the computer for the slave arm are

actually the positions where the master has been some time ago. Initial

experiments with the system revealed some potential problems when

master/slave manipulation is performed in the presence of transmission

delay.

Specifically, there is a possibility of asking the slave to move

in a position not permi.tted by the constraints of the remote site.

This can happen because the operator receives information about collision

with an obstacle long after he had commanded the slave to move even

further "inside" the obstacle. In that case, the slave will not be able

to follow the master, even if the operator retreats, since it will first

have to complete the previously commanded moves. The positioning error

at the joints of the manipulator will then become very high and will

eventually blow the fuses of the servo controller.

To ,.emedy this problem, a special strategy was included in the delay

simulation software. Specifically when the positioning error exceeded

some prespecifiable threshold, the computer would signal to the operator

a "hit" (by two beeps) and would take over for two seconds. At this

. f'

point the slave would be commanded by the computer to backtrack until

the error was reduced to acceptable limits and then the master would

be brought in the same position as the slave. The operator would

finally be notified that the system had recovered (by four beeps).
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ORIGINAL PAGE i,9

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HUMAN FORWARD CONTROLLED

O

PERATOR DELAY PLANT

^( 71,-^Q 4YC

FEEDBACK

DELAY

LUMPED

HUMAN FORWARD CONTROLLED

OPERATOR DELAY PLANT

E Y 2A Yc

FIGURE D-1 Delayed manual control systems

305 mm (12")

f STOP

203mm (E") E /BUTTON

- --0-- --2-

457 mm (18")

S

START POINT

FIGURE D-2 The positioning task

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D.2.3. Experimental Procedures.

D.2.3..1. Positioning Task.

For the simulation of the positioning task, the device shown in

Figure D-2 was built. At a "START" signal, the subject was asked to

move the end effector of the slave, from point S to point E [a distance

of 457 mm (1.5 feet)], and press the "STOP" button there. Three

different buttons sizes were used [19 mm (3/4 inc , ), 25.4 mm (1 inch)

and 44.5 mm (1 3/4 inch) in diameter] to examine the effect of

positioning tolerance. The time required for the move (between "START"

and "STOP") was recorded by the computer.

Subjects would view the task site through a television with the

camera and monitor positions fixed. The actual arrangement is shown

in Figure D-3. It should be noted that the TV monitor was positioned

parallel to the camera so that the subject would be better oriented.

The viewing distance and the pan and tilt of the camera was preselected

so that the subject would have a complete view of the task site.

D.2.3.2. Path Tracking Task.

For the simulation of the path tracking task, the test weld of

Figure D-4 as originally developed by Yoerger (D4) was used initially.

The subjects had to traverse the path keeping the end of the slave at

a prespecified distance from the weld and pointed directly at the

weld bead. The task was timed but performance was to be judged by

the ability of the operator to keep a constant speed and a constant

distance from the weld while continuously pointing at it. However,

these performance specifications, shown in Figure D-5, were not directly

comparable with the simple time measure available for the positioning

task. Furthermore, time by itself would not be a reliable measure

because then the subjects would have to make an unspecifiable tradeoff between completion time and accuracy. To avoid these problems,

only a limited number of experiments were performed with this test

weld. Instead, a new path tracking task was developed. This latter

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ORIGINAL PAQL IS

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FIGURE D-3 Experimental setup in the M.M.S.L.

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HAND

ENTATION

D9

ORIGINAL PAGE 19

OF POOR QUALITY

FIGURE D-4 Yoerger's test weld(D4)

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FIGURE D-5 Performance criteria. The distance criterion was the

shortest distance between the tip of the tool and the

weld bead. The orientation criterion was the shortest

distance between the axis aligned with the hand and the

weld bead(D4)
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1 task would impose prespecified accuracy tolerances both in position

and orientation. Completion time would again be the only performance

measure.

The device schematically depicted in Figure D-6 was developed as

p' a more realistic simulation of a path tracking task for the case of

, Cwelding or cutting. The operation of the device is rather simple.

When the "torch' is directly over the slit of the table (Photo D-1),

light from the lamp will reach the phototransistor (Photo D-2) of the

' light sensor, which in turn will activate the motor. To keep the

^. motor running,the subject has to follow the moving light sensor. If

he fails to do so or if he deviates outside a permissible lateral

tolerance, the motor will stop and the counter will count one error.

The tolerance can be varied by changing the size of the slit and

the diameter of the aperture in the torch. The optics of the torch

are designed to project a constant diameter beam of light. In this

way, the path deviation tolerance is kept the same, irrespective of

the torch-to-sensor distance. The motor speed can also be varied.

The subject is, therefore, forced to follow a path with a prespecified

tolerance and at a constant speed. Only the completion time is

measured as the single performance criterion. Errors will simply

increase the completion time, much in the same way as in the positioning

task. Nevertheless both of the previously mentioned distance and angle

performance criteria can still be measured.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the developed path tracking

task is a better simulation of welding or cutting because it imposes

a specified constant tracking speed to the operator. This is very

similar to what really happens during cutting or welding, where the

speed of tracking is dictated by the thickness of the metal (in cutt

and the welding conditions (in welding). If the torch is moved at a

higher speed than actually required, cutting will not be completed

*'The circuit details are given in Figure D-7.

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ORIGINAL PAGE IS

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PHOTO D-1

PHOTO D-2
D 12

ORIGINAL PAGE iq

OF POOR QUALITY

1270 mm (5011)

PAINTED DARK GRAY AREA I

SUPPORT

-- VARIABLE

152.4 mm (6 11 ) ;PAINTED WHITE

WHITE CIRCULAR TARGET 00 WIDTH

AREA ^ SLIT

152.4 mm -^ (L) LIGHT (R) /^ 6p0 45° 

SEt±SO 4-

TRACK LIMITS

(a) FRONT VIEW

• 457 mm (18"

LEFT LIMIT

152 mm (6 )

PHOTO 

SWITCH /

PHOTO

i TARGET RIGHT LIMIT

LIM 

PUL EY PULLEY

D. C. i 

MOTOR

LIMIT SW TCH CIRCUIT BOARD

TO TIMER (COMPUTER)

MOTOR CONTROL LIGHT SENSOR

CIRCUIT BOARD CIRCUIT BOARD

(b) BACK VIEW 

FIGURE D-6 The developed weld tracking task
D 13

ORIGINAL PAGE IS

OF POOR QUALITY

ILIMIT SWITCH CONTROL BOARD

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STOP 

---- --------- 

TIMER r..

(LEFT

ON/OFF

+ §' 1"-

9V

LEFT/RIGHT LIMIT —1-(RI

SWITCH SELECTION

!rAffl- -i i RELAY

MOTOR CONTROL BOARD I

I HAND-HELD START BUTTOI

START

I TIMER

DC MOTOR L-------I

LEFT/RIGHT I LIGHT SENSOR BOARD

DIRECTION

SELECTION SWITCH I

RI

(IPHOTOTRANSISTOR) 

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HIGH/STOP/LOW

DIRECTION

PjLAY

LIGHT SELECTION SWITCH

+ VHIGH VLOW

(CONTACT CLOSED WHEN LIGHT IS OFF)

(VOLTAGES ADJUSTED FROM

DC POWER SUPPLY

* Only the V lowvoltage is controllable by the light.

Vhigh is used for a quick return to the starting position.!

FIGURE D-7 Circuit details for the developed path tracking task ' 

_ 
D

° through the thickness of the material, or insufficient metal deposition

will result. If, on the other hand, a lower speed is used, anoversized weld bead or a wider cut will result. In either case, the

operator will have to correct his tracking speed in order to get

i

acceptable results. In a very similar manner, during simulation the

operator will have to track at a constant speed in order to keep the

Ir target moving.

D.2.4. Experimental Design.

D.2.4.1. Positioning Task.

Two complete experiments were performed with the positioning task.

Both were class IV experimental designs D6 run with the same subjects.

Due to the length of the experiments, only three subjects were tested -

(a) The first experiment was performed with the subjects directly

viewing the task (no TV involved). Two factors were studied:

(A) Transmission delay as simulated by the computer in the

feed forward path. Four levels of this factor were

tested (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 seconds of delay).

(B) Positioning tolerance, varied by the size of the

"STOP" button. Three different levels of this factor

were tested (3/4", 1",and 1 and 3/4" diameter targets).

i

All subjects were exposed at all levels of all the factors

(SxAxB design). To eliminate learning and carry-over effects, the

order in which the treatments were presented to the subjects was

randomized. The actual order for each subject is shown in Table D-2

(Numbered chips drawn off a bag were used for random number generatior.

All subjects were male, right handed, engineering graduate students

with perfect vision. Before starting the experiments, they were

briefed about the operation of the manipulator and the details of the

simulation. They were permitted to practice at all the combinations

of delay times and target sizes for about an hour.
r

D 15

Table D-1 Treatment numbering for Positioning Experiment 111

TARGET

DIA.

(inches)

DELAY TIME (seconds)

0. 1. 2. 3.

3/4 1 4 7 10

1 2 5 8 11

1 3/4 3 6 9 12

Table D-2 Order of treatment presentation to each subject for

Positioning Experiment 111

ORDER

SUBJECT

S1 (K.I.) S2 (U.D.) S3 (A.D.)

1 10 9 2

Y 9 3 6

3 1 2 12

4 2 12 8

5 6 1 7

6 11 4 5

7 3 10 9

8 12 7 4

9 5 5 3

10 4 11 11

11 7 8 10

12 8 6 1
ED 16

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During the actual experiment, each combination of the two factors

was repeatedly tested 10 times. The first five were practice runs

O

whereas the final five were averaged to give a single score for the

treatment. It should be noted at this point that during each repetition

0

the device of Figure D-2 was slightly reoriented to prevent the task

s

from becoming rote. Several short rest periods were allowed throughout

r the experiment.

(b) The second positioning experiment was performed with the

subjects viewing the task site through the TV monitor. The best possible

44

TV picture was used. Direct sight was blocked by a black curtain as

shown in Figure D-3. In this experiment only a single factor, the

+* G

transmission delay, was studied. The positioning tolerance was kept

constant by using only the 1" diameter target. To get more data points,

seven levels of the single factor were now tested (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5,

2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 seconds). Again, in order to eliminate learning and

carry over effects, the order in which the treatments were presented

^ to the subjects was randomized. Table D-4 gives the order for each

subject. All subjects were tested at all the levels of the single

factor (SxA design). Ten repetitions at each level were performed, and

again only the final five were averaged to give a single score.

An actual remote manipulation task would be necessarily performed

4

with TV viewing. Therefore the second experiment is undoubtedly more

realistic for the purposes of our study. The first experiment, however,

(lasting about 3 to 4 hours for each subject) had to be performed so

that the subjects would reach a consistently high level of experience

i,

with the manipulator. This was considered necessary since further

experiments (with other remote manipulation tasks) were to be performed

with the same subjects.

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Table D-3 Treatment numbering for Positioning Experiment #2 fi{

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Table D-4 Order of treatment presentation for Positioning`"

Experiment #2 

d!

TARGET

DELAY TIME (SECONDS)

DIA.

(inches) 0.0 1 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

1" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ORDER

SUBJECT

SI (K.I.) S2 (U.D.) S3 (A.De B)

1 3 1 5

2 6 7 3

3 2 3 7

4 7 4 1

5 5 2 4

6 1 6 6

7 4 5 2

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D 18

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D.2.4.2. Path Tracking Task.

(a) As was already mentioned, only an incomplete experiment was run

with the initial path tracking task. Only subject Sl (K.I.) was used.

Four levels of delay (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 seconds) were tested, and the

subject was asked to trace the test weld of Figure D-5 as accurately as

possible in terms of speed, distance and orientation. The errors were

recorded as well as the completion time.

(b) A complete set of experiments was planned with the developed

path tracking task. The subjects were again viewing the task site

through the TV monitor as in Figure D-3. A typical such TV view can be

seen in Photo D-1.

Two factors were studied in this experiment (SxAxB experimental

design):

(A) Transmission delay simulated by the computer in the feed

forward path. Four levels of this factor were tested

(0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 seconds of delay).

(B) Path tracking speed. Two levels of this factor were tested,

381 mm/min (15 inches/min) and 762 mm/min (30 inches/min).

These two speeds were representative of typical manual

welding or cutting speeds.

The developed welding simulation task permits selection of a

tracking tolerance (by varying the aperture of the beam projection

optics). However, initial experimentation suggested that if the tolerance was made very small, it would become necessary to increase the

magnification of the TV camera (by using a zoom lens or several cameras)

and would complicate these initial experiments. It was therefore

decided to keep the tolerance constant using a light beam of 6.3 mm

(0.25 inches) in diameter.

As in the previous experiments, the order of treatment presentation

was randomized so as to avoid learning effects. Tables D-5 and D-6 give

the actual treatment numbering and order of presentation. The experiment

was again planned as an SxAxB design. Ten repetitions at each level

E

were performed and only the final five were used for scoring purposes.

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Table D-5 Treatment numbering for Path Tracking Experiment

TRACKING

SPEED

DELAY TIME (SECONDS)

0. 0.5 1. 2.

(15 in./min) 1 2 3 4

(30 in./min) 5 6 7 8

Table D-6 Order of treatment presentation to each subject

for Path Tracking Experiment

ORDER

SUBJECT

S1 (K.I.) S2 (A.D.)

1 1 7

2 2 6

3 8 5

4 3 2

5 4 3

6 5 4

7 7 1

8 6 8

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D 20

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ID.3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

D.3.1. Positioning Experiments.

The mean and the standard deviation of the completion times, over

the final five repetitions, at each treatment and for each subject,are

given in Table D-7 for experiment 111 and in Table D - 8 for experiment

112. The mean will be used as the single score in our design.

For experiment 111, these scores are plotted in Figures

For

D-8, D-9

and D-10, for the subjects S1, S2 and S3 respectively. experiment

112, all the results are summarized in Figure D-11. For comparison

purposes the average completion times in experiment 111, for the 1"

diameter target only, are plotted for all subjects in Figure D-12.

,

From these figures, it can be readily seen that the effect of

delay is very significant. In order to quantify our conclusions,

however, analysis of variance was performed using the program ANOVA

developed by I.B.M. bS . The obtained results are summarized in Tables

D-9 and D-10. Using standard tables of the F-distribution D6 we can

readily conclude that:

(a) In both Experiments (1 and 2) the effect of delay is highly

significant ( p<0.001).

(b) In the case of Experiment 1, where both delay and positioning

tolerance are studied, we see both a significant effect of

tolerance itself ( p<0.05) as well as a significant delaytolerance interaction ( p<0.01).

The latter effect may be attributed to the fact that tighter

tolerances make the task disappropriately more difficult at the higher

delay times. This can be supported by the observation that the subjects

usually missed the smaller targets more often. When missing the target

the arm was usually "locked" and the subjects had to backtrack and try

the final approach again. This usually took longer at the higher delay

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times.

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Table D-7 Results of Positioning Experiment 1

SUBJECT 1 (K.I.)

B1 (3/4") B2 ( 1 11 ) B3 (1 3/411)

AVG S.D. AVG S.D. AVG S.D.

Al 0 2.56 0.63 2.40 0.15 2.21 0.13

A2 1 14.03 2.51 12.69 0.92 15.78 1.41

A3 2 27.09 8.54 15.00 4.11 20.49 3.18

A4 3 40.12 16.98 32.34 8.18 23.67 2.86

SUBJECT 2 (U.D.)

B1 (3/4") B2 (1") B3 (1 3/411)

AVG S.D. AVG S.D. AVG S.D.

Al 0 2.59 0.40 1.86 0.68 2.06 0.42

A2 1 13.92 7.58 12.40 5.14 17.55 5.58

A3 2 23.40 6.36 22.32 7.02 22.37 9.23

A4 3 33.98 19.367 30.25 11.55 20.04 5.22

SUBJECT 3 (A. De B.)

B1 (3/4") B2 (111) B3 (1 3/411)

AVG S.D. AVG S.D. AVG S.D.

Al 0 1.93 0.60 1.61 0.33 1.35 0.14

A2 1 16.82 7.89 11.79 1.04 13.76 2.67

A3 2 21.26 7.50 24.92 9.80 25.36 10.95

A4 3 44.76 20.32 34.92 11.78 33.26 9.82

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Table D-8 Results of Positioning Experiment 2

S1 (K.I.) S2 (U.D.) S3 (A. De B.)

DELAY AVG S.D. AVG S.D. AVG S.D.

0.0 4.55 1.18 4.88 1.78 3.00 0.63

0.5 17.61 7.47 13.11 4.76 13.93 7.61

1.0 28.99 4.93 24.36 9.8 19.85 6.80

1.5 36.72 14.81 30.98 15.16 17.73 10.71

2.0 45.81 7.43 25.28 4.68 47.74 32.93

2.5 44.56 23.13 23.38 4.148 43.12 29.72

3.0 51.69 25.91 51.31 10.41 47.38 13.51

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Table D-9 Analysis of variance calculations for Experiment #1

LEVELS OF FACTORS

A 4

B 3

S 3

GRAND MEAN = 17.85695

SOURCE OF

VARIATION

SUMS OF

SQUARES

DEGREES OF

FREEDOM

MEAN

SQUARES

F—RATIOS

A 4504.63086 3 1501.54358 79.08

B 100.12605 2 50.06302 12.44

AB 227.28711 6 37.88118 5.07

S 39.42203 2 19.71102 1

AS 113.92599 6 18 98767

BS 16.10316 4 4.02579

ABS 89.69079 12 7,4742,'•

TOTAL 5091.18555 35^

Table D-10 Analysis of variance calculations for Experiment #2

LEVELS OF FACTORS

A 7

S 3

GRAND MEAN = 28.38000

SOURCE OF SUMS OF DEGREES OF MEAN F—RATIOS

VARIATION SQUARES FREEDOM SQUARES

A 4377.31787 6 729.55298 14.36

S 236.55296 2 118.27648

AS 609.81848 12 50.81821

TOTAL 5223.68896 20

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Table D-11 Developed Path Tracking Experiment

SUBJECT 1 (K.I.)

SPEED LOW SPEED HI

AVG S.D. AVG S.D.

Al 0 57.384 2.824 30.479 2.196

A2 5 68.217 8.253 43.84 3.726

A3 1 79.821 10.790 52.341 8.385

A4 2 113.324 28.382 101.487 21.706
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It should also be noted at this point that the subjects almost

invariably used the same "golf player's" approach to the positioning

task. Specifically, they all would first come to the closer area of

the target with a continuous relatively fast move and then they would

employ a much slower "move and wait" strategy for the fine positioning. This was especially true with the higher delay times. It is

also interesting to note that when the TV was used, all subjects

found the shadows cast by the manipulator very useful in giving them

a depth perception.

D.3.2. Path Tracking Experiments.

The distance and orientation errors during the initial path

tracking run with the first subject are shown in Figures D-13 and

D-Li, for delays of 0.0 and 2.0 seconds respectively. The performance

of the subject seems to be better during the delayed mode operation.

This can be attributed to the previously mentioned trade-off between

completion time and accuracy. Furthermore, during the delayed mode

the manipulator is under computer control, and according to the subjects

felt somewhat more "stiff" and easier to keep at a given position and

orientation.

As was already mentioned, no statistical analysis was performed,

due to the lack of a single measure of performance comparable to the

completion time of the positioning experiments. Instead, further

complete experiments were designed using the developed path tracking

task.

The complete set of experiments planned with the developed path

tracking task is not yet finished. Only one subject has been completely

tested and the current experimental results are summarized in Table

D-11 and Figure 15. Very similar results were also obtained in the

practice sessions performed with the other subjects. Experimentation

will continue and further results will be included in (D7).
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Although a complete statistical analysis cannot be performed at

this point, it seems as if the effects of delay are not so pronounced

in this case. This is mainly due to the fact that the task did not

require any contact between the end effector of the manipulator and

the "remote" site. This way, all the problems associated with

"locking" of the arm are avoided and the proportionate increase of the

task completion time is not as great as during positioning. The extra

time is usually due to loosing the moving target and having to start

tracking it again. This was happening more often at the higher tracking

speeds and with the longer delay times, as can be verified from our raw

data and observations during the experiment.

However, welding is more than following a moving target. Therefore,

unless some means of avoiding spatter and wandering of the arc during

the frequent starts and stops of the process are provided, it is rather

difficult to perform actual high quality welding under these conditions.

The required "wait-and-see" strategy may be acceptable for the case of

assembly operations but is definitely undesirable during welding.

Therefore, it seems that the necessary continuity of path tracking,

desirable for high quality welding, is difficult to achieve during

remote manipulation, and computer controlled motion along a pretaught

path is probably the best alternative.

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REFERENCES TO APPENDIX D

D1 Sheridan T.B., "Supervisory Control: Problems, Theory and

Experiment for Application to Human - Computer Interaction in

Undersea Remote Systems", Man Machine System Lab Report to

O.N.R. under contract # N00014-77-C-0256, M.I.T. Dept, of

Mechanical Engineering, March 1982.

D2 Ferrell, W.R., "Remote Manipulation with Transmission Delay",

Ph.D. Thesis, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering M.I.T., September

1964.

D3 Brooks T.L., "Superman: A System for Supervisory Manipulation

and the Study of Human/Computer Interactions", M.S. Thesis,

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, M.I.T. 1979.

D4 Yoerger D., "Supervisory Control of Underwater Telemanipulators:

Design and Experiment", Ph.D. Thesis, Dept. of Mechanical

Engineering, M.I.T. September 1982.

D5 I.B.M., "System/360 Scientific Subroutine Package", Programmer's

Manual, August 1970.

D6 Lee W., "Experimental Design and Analysis", W.H. Freeman Co.,

San Francisco, 1975.

D7 Agapakis, J., "A Study on Remote Robotic Welding and Expert Welding

Systems", Ph.D. Thesis, M.I.T., under preparation.

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