This paper discussed the effect of welding variables on the mechanical properties of welded 10 mm thick low carbon steel plate, welded using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) method. Welding current, arc voltage, welding speed and electrode diameter were the investigated welding parameters. The welded samples were cut and machined to standard configurations for tensile, impact toughness, and hardness tests. The results showed that the selected welding parameters had significant effects on the mechanical properties of the welded samples. Increases in the arc voltage and welding current resulted in increased hardness and decrease in yield strength, tensile strength and impact toughness. Increasing the welding speed from 40-66.67 mm/min caused an increase in the hardness characteristic of the welded samples. Initial decrease in tensile and yield strengths were observed which thereafter increased as the welding speed increased. An electrode diameter of 2.5 mm provided the best combination of mechanical properties when compared to the as received samples. This behaviour was attributed to the fact that increased current and voltage meant increased heat input which could create room for defect formation, thus the observed reduced mechanical properties.

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Physical properties such as apparent density, bulk density, compressibility index and particle sizes of carbonized and uncarbonized coconut shell nanoparticles produced through top down approach have been studied. Percentage composition of the coconut fruit was determined using five different coconut fruit samples. Results revealed that coir occupies the highest percentage; coconut shells account for 15 % while the flesh and liquid occupy 30 % of the whole coconut fruit. The apparent densities of the uncarbonized and carbonized coconut shell nanoparticles obtained at 70 hours of milling are 0.65 g/cm3 and 0.61 g/cm3 respectively. Their respective compressibility indices and average particle sizes are 46.4 % and 69.7 %; 50.01 nm and 14.29 nm. The difference in the particle sizes of the carbonized and uncarbonized coconut shell nanoparticles can be linked with reduction in the moisture content and volatiles of the carbonized coconut shell nanoparticles due to carbonization process. The reduction in the moisture and volatiles results in the enhanced hardness and brittleness of the carbonized coconut shells which facilitate their breakage during the course of milling than that of the uncarbonized coconut shells. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Vol. 12, No. I, June, 2016, Page: 63-79

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