This paper reports on the continuing research in homopolar pulse welding (HPW) as applied to pipe welding. As part of the NSF/Offshore Technology Research Center (OTRC). The program is designed to develop and commercialize this relatively new technology. The goal is to fully characterize the relative importance of the many coupled process variables and develop a real-time quality assurance system that will nondestructively determine the quality of a weld by simple electrical measurements. Potential commercial applications of HPW include large diameter pipe and other structures where a large cross-section must be welded quickly (i.e. laying of pipe with deep-sea lay barges, and construction of tension legs in the new deep-water tension leg drilling platforms) (Chung, 1985).Center for Electromechanic
