<![CDATA[Welding is one of the most widely used metal joining methods in the manufacturing industry, where the quality of the welded joint is strongly influenced by process parameters, particularly welding current. This study aims to analyze the effect of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) current on the tensile strength of double lap joint welds made from AISI 1050 medium-carbon steel. The welding process was carried out using 2.4 mm diameter E7016 electrodes at three current levels: 70 A, 85 A, and 100 A. After welding, the specimens were subjected to non-destructive testing (liquid penetrant testing) to detect surface defects, followed by tensile testing using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) in accordance with the ASME Section IX standard. The results showed that all specimens were free from significant surface defects. Tensile testing revealed that the highest average tensile strength was achieved at a welding current of 70 A, reaching 62.97 kgf/mm², followed by 100 A with 56.61 kgf/mm², while the lowest value was obtained at 85 A with 55.73 kgf/mm². The welding current significantly affected the quality of the welded joints. Excessively low current resulted in unstable weld penetration, whereas excessively high current accelerated electrode melting, thereby reducing the bonding strength of the weld metal. Therefore, selecting an appropriate welding current is essential for producing high-quality welded joints, and the findings of this study may serve as a reference for determining optimal welding parameters for medium carbon steel.]]>
