Original Article

Microstructure and mechanical properties of general structural steel parts manufactured by submerged arc - wire arc additive manufacturing (SA-WAAM)

¹ Manisa Celal Bayar University, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Manisa, Turkiye
² Ege University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, İzmir, Turkiye

^* e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 21 October 2025
Accepted: 25 March 2026

Abstract

This study examines the mechanical properties of samples produced from low-carbon steel wire conforming to TS EN ISO 14341-A standards using additive manufacturing, according to different heat inputs. The samples were produced using the submerged arc welding method at speeds of 20, 22, and 24 mm/min, with temperature monitoring and surface preparation protocols. Subsequent analyses include directional mechanical property evaluation, metallography, optical and stereo microscopy, hardness and surface roughness measurements, and dry sliding wear tests. Post-wear analyses include SEM observation of wear tracks, volume loss comparison, and 3D roughness profiling. The findings reveal a distinct relationship between heat input, welding speed, grain structure, cooling rate, and the resulting morphological and mechanical property changes; in particular, it is emphasized that finer-grained, higher-hardness structures emerge with decreasing heat input.