Abstract: The characteristics of droplet transfer mode in buried arc gas metal arc welding (BA-GMAW)involving engineering applications were reviewed.The results showed that under high current and corresponding welding parameters,there were three droplet transfer modes in BA-GMAW process,namely drop transfer,swinging transfer and rotating transfer.The arc shape in BA-GMAW arc cavity was continuous,open and inactive;the atmosphere in the arc cavity changed qualitatively,and the arc climbed above the droplet,meeting the three factors of spray transfer formation.The influences of welding parameters on the droplet transfer modes of BA-GMAW were mainly the ones of welding current and arc voltage,the former mainly changed the direction and magnitude of the force on the droplet,while the latter involved the stability of the buried arc.The favorable relationship between droplet transfer mode and process quality in buried arc welding was determined by the improvement of droplet transfer characteristics controlled by arc stabilization technology.Highlights:Through welding parameters of test cases in typical engineering application,the corresponding arc and droplet transition form was analyzed and judged,and the transformation from practice to theory was completed,which laid a solid foundation for the subsequent discussion.