
Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) is a high-productivity welding process widely used in heavy fabrication industries such as shipbuilding, pressure vessel manufacturing, structural steel construction, and heavy equipment production. In the SAW process, a continuous wire electrode is fed into a layer of granular flux that covers the weld joint. The welding head is typically moved mechanically along the joint while additional flux is deposited ahead of the arc.
The welding arc forms between the electrode and the base metal beneath the flux layer. The arc heat melts the electrode, the base metal, and portions of the flux. The molten weld metal and filler combine in the joint while the melted flux floats on the surface, forming a protective slag that shields the weld pool from atmospheric contamination.
Because the arc is completely covered by flux, the process produces minimal arc flash, sparks, or fumes compared to many open-arc welding processes. This course introduces the fundamental principles of submerged arc welding, including process operation, equipment, consumables, joint preparation, advantages, limitations, and common applications. The course is intended for engineers, inspectors, technicians, and fabrication personnel seeking a basic understanding of the SAW process and its role in industrial welding operations.




