Multimodal experimental data for tandem gas metal arc welding of thick steel plates with advanced pulsed and short-circuiting process modes

High power tandem gas metal arc welding (T-GMAW) enables increased productivity in thick plate applications by supplying two wires to a single melt pool. Besides increasing the deposition rate, T-GMAW has previously been demonstrated to offer improved energy efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint compared to single wire process variants. However, due to the complex interaction of both arc processes, achieving stable and reliable welding conditions has historically been challenging, especially at high deposition rates. Introduction of advanced process mode variants for pulsed and controlled short-circuiting transfer modes have increased the stability of the T-GMAW process and widened the field of applications. Since these new technologies are emerging and availability of publications and datasets in T-GMAW is limited - especially with modern equipment and process modes - we want to present an initial comprehensive multimodal T-GMAW dataset covering a variety of process mode combinations and deposition rates. A common multi-layer V-Groove joint design is chosen to reflect real world thick plate applications. The dataset covers high resolution time series recordings of the welding process parameters, its arc process signatures, power and material consumptions and the exact movement of the welding torch along the groove in a weaving pattern. Furthermore, detailed 3D measurements of the weld seam surface are included for each layer together with high dynamic range video recordings of the T-GMAW process. The dataset enables researchers to analyse the process in a variety of ways. Possible applications could include the calculations of heat input and process efficiency dependent on the chosen process parameters or evaluation of the process signatures in relation to the groove geometry and weaving pattern for arc sensing. The provided video recordings also allow estimations of the melt pool size and shape which are widely used as inputs for welding simulations. Researchers interested in life-cycle inventory development can compare the advanced T-GMAW process to other joining and manufacturing processes based on the included data.