Microstructural and mechanical characterization of electron beam welded Al-alloy 7020

The electron beam (EB) welding process is used to weld any metal that can be arc welded with equal or superior weld quality. EB welding is carried out in a high-purity vacuum environment, which results in freedom from impurities such as oxides and nitrides. Thus, pore-free joints can readily be achieved in metallic materials, such as Al-alloys and Ti-alloys. However, autogenous EB welding of some aluminium alloys leads to a significant strength reduction (undermatching) in the fusion zone due to the loss of strengthening phases. For such Al-alloys, the local microstructure-property relationships should be established to satisfy the service requirement of a welded component with strength undermatching. Autogenous EB welding was performed on 5 mm thick aluminium alloy 7020 plate. Microstructural characterization of the weld metals was made by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Extensive microhardness measurements were conducted in the weld regions of the joints which exhibited a hardness loss in the fusion zone due to the loss of strengthening phases. Tensile properties of the joints were determined by testing flat transverse tensile specimens at room temperature without machining the weld profiles. Furthermore, elastic-plastic fracture toughness tests (CTOD) were carried out on the base material and welded joints at room temperature.     

16MnR钢激光冲击工艺及对焊接结构应力腐蚀性能的影响EI北大核心CSCD

对16MnR母材进行激光冲击工艺实验,获得优化的激光冲击工艺参数。对激光-MAG复合焊焊接接头进行表面处理,分析接头激光冲击前后状态的残余应力分布及抗应力腐蚀性能变化。结果表明:对16MnR钢平板经激光冲击处理后,在材料表面最大可引入475μm厚度的塑性变形层,并同时引入-593 MPa的压应力分布。采用优化激光冲击工艺对16MnR钢焊接接头进行表面处理后,可有效减小焊接接头表面的残余拉应力分布。在3.5%NaCl(质量分数)条件下对激光冲击处理前后的接头试样进行慢应变速率应力腐蚀实验,发现激光冲击处理前后16MnR钢焊接接头的应力腐蚀敏感指数I_(SSRT)分别为0.106和0.104,表明激光冲击可以提高接头的抗应力腐蚀能力。     

激光冲击对X70焊接接头慢拉伸电化学腐蚀的影响

为了改善X70管线钢焊接接头慢拉伸电化学腐蚀性能,用激光冲击波对X70管线钢焊接接头表面进行强化处理.采用慢应变速率拉伸法分析了X70管线钢焊接接头,在不同H2S浓度的NACE溶液(0.5%HAC+5%NaCl)中电化学腐蚀行为,测试了激光冲击处理前后X70管线钢焊接接头腐蚀电位,讨论了激光冲击处理对X70管线钢焊接接头腐蚀电位和断口形貌的影响.实验结果表明,激光冲击处理改善了X70管线钢焊接接头腐蚀性能,其SCC敏感性指数Iscc降低了6%.经激光冲击处理后试样自然腐蚀电位正移,极化电阻逐渐增大,其耐蚀性比原始状态有所提高.     

Stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement cracking of welded weathering steel and carbon steel in a simulated acid rain environment

Abstract

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and hydrogen embrittlement cracking (HEC) characteristics of welded weathering steel and carbon steel were investigated in aerated acid chloride solution. The electrochemical properties of welded steels were investigated by polarisation and galvanic corrosion tests. Neither weathering steel nor carbon steel showed passive behaviour in this acid chloride solution. The results indicated that weathering steel had better corrosion resistance than carbon steel. Galvanic corrosion between the weldment and the base metal was not observed in the case of weathering steel because the base metal was anodic to the weldment. However, the carbon steel was susceptible to galvanic corrosion because the weldment acts as an anode. Slow strain rate tests (SSRT) were conducted at a constant strain rate of 7.87 × 10⁷ s^-1 at corrosion potential, and at potentiostatically controlled anodic and cathodic potentials, to investigate the SCC and HEC properties in acid chloride solution. The welded weathering steel and carbon steel were susceptible to both anodic dissolution SCC and hydrogen evolution HEC. However, weathering steel showed less susceptibility of SCC and HEC than carbon steel at anodic potential because of Cr and Cu compounds in the rust layer, which retarded anodic dissolution, and at cathodic potential due to the presence of Cr, Cu, and Ni in alloy elements, which inhibit the reduction of hydrogen ions. SEM fractographs of both steels revealed a quasicleavage fracture in the embrittled region at applied anodic and cathodic potentials.     

Characterization of microstructure,mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of dissimilar welded joint between 2205 duplex stainless steel and 16MnR

The joint of dissimilar metals between 2205 duplex stainless steel and 16MnR low alloy high strength steel are welded by tungsten inert gas arc welding (GTAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) respectively. The microstructures of welded joints are investigated using scanning electron microscope, optical microscope and transmission electron microscopy respectively. The relationship between mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and microstructure of welded joints is evaluated. Results indicate that there are a decarburized layer and an unmixed zone close to the fusion line. It is also indicated that, austenite and acicular ferrite structures distribute uniformly in the weld metal, which is advantageous for better toughness and ductility of joints. Mechanical properties of joints welded by the two kinds of welding technology are satisfied. However, the corrosion resistance of the weldment produced by GTAW is superior to that by SMAW in chloride solution. Based on the present work, it is concluded that GTAW is the suitable welding procedure for joining dissimilar metals between 2205 duplex stainless steel and 16MnR.     

Susceptibility of 7050-T7451 electron beam welded specimens to stress corrosion

Susceptibility to stress corrosion tests were carried out on electron beam welded specimens made from 7050-T7451 aluminium alloy. As a comparison, specimens made from base material were tested too. The resistance of the welded material was high: the tensile properties were only slightly lower than those of the base material. After 30 day exposure to a corrosive environment (alternate immersion in a 3.5% NaCl solution), the tensile properties of the welded material were considerably reduced, while the same properties were only slightly affected in the base material. The combined effect of stress and corrosion was only slightly detrimental for the base material and very detrimental for the welded material. At the lowest stress level tested, about 25% of the ultimate stress, the welded specimens failed after a mean life of 90 days. Considerable residual stresses associated with the welding process were measured in a plate. A test was performed to verify the possibility of stress corrosion cracking promoted by the welding residual stresses. In actual fact, no cracks were observed, but the corrosion rate increased, particularly in the areas affected by the higher residual stresses.     

The influence of salt fog exposure on the fatigue performance of Alclad 6xxx aluminum alloys laser beam welded joints

Laser welding is increasingly used for the fabrication of lightweight and cost-effective integral stiffened panels in modern civil aircraft. As these structures age in service, the issue of the effect of corrosion on their damage tolerance requires attention. In this work, laboratory data on the influence of salt fog corrosion on the fatigue behavior of cladded 6156 T4 aluminum alloy laser welded specimens are presented. The experimental investigation was performed on 6156 T4 laser butt welded sheets. Prior to fatigue testing the welded joints were exposed to laboratory salt fog corrosion exposure for 720 h. The results showed that the clad layer offers sufficient corrosion protection both on base metal and the weld. Fatigue testing was followed by standard metallographic analysis in order to identify fatigue crack initiation sites. Crack initiation is located in all welded samples near the weld reinforcement which induces a significant stress concentration. Localized corrosion attack of the clad layer, in the form of pitting corrosion, creates an additional stress concentration which accelerates crack initiation leading to shorter fatigue life relative to the uncorroded samples. The potency of small corrosion pits to act as stress concentration sites has been assessed analytically. The above results indicate that despite the general corrosion protection offered by the clad layer, the localized attack described above leads to inferior fatigue performance, a fact that should be taken under consideration in the design and maintenance of these structures.     

Properties of electron-beam-welded and laser-welded austenitic Fe-28Mn-5Al-1C alloy

Austenitic Fe-28Mn-5Al-1C alloy was welded by electron-beam and CW CO₂ laser techniques. Tensile tests, impact tests, potentiodynamic and cyclic polarization measurements were used to evaluate the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of the weld materials, Metallographic examination showed that the microstructure of the electron-beam-welded and laser-welded metals consisted mainly of the columnar and equiaxed austenitic structures. Grain growth in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) was minimal for welding with these two techniques. The tensile and impact tests indicated that the weld materials exhibited lower tensile strength, percentage elongation, percentage reduction in area and impact energy than those of the base alloy. The polarization measurements revealed that the anodic polarization behaviour of the HAZs of the electron-beam-welded and laser-welded materials was identical to that of the base alloy when exposed in 1M Na₂SO₄ solution. However, the electron-beam-welded and laser-welded metals exhibited a higher current density in the passive region than that of the base alloy when exposed to 1N H₂SO₄ acid solution.     

Verhalten geschweißter Magnesiumlegierungen unter mechanisch‐korrosiver Komplexbeanspruchung

Corrosion and corrosion fatigue of welded magnesium alloys In addition to the prevalent use of magnesium cast alloys a high potential for lightweight constructions is offered by magnesium‐wrought alloys, in particular in the automobile industry. The use of rolled and/or extruded magnesium alloys (profiles and sheet metals) requires suitable and economic join technologies like different welding procedures in order to join semi finished parts. Thus, the realization of lightweight constructions asks for high standards of materials‐ and joining‐technologies. In this context, the mechanical properties as well as the corrosion behaviour of the joints are of large interest. During welding of magnesium alloys, influences concerning the surface, the internal stresses and the microstructure occur. These influences particularly depend on the energy input and thus, on the welding procedure as well as the processing parameters, which all affect the corrosion behaviour of the joints. Sheets of magnesium alloys (AZ31, AZ61, AZ91) were joined with different welding procedures (plasma‐, laser beam‐ and electron‐beam welding in the vacuum and at atmosphere). The corrosion behaviour (with and without cyclic mechanical loading) of the welded joints was investigated by different methods such as corrosion tests, polarisation curves, scanning electron microscopy and metallography. Furthermore, substantial influencing variables on the corrosion behaviour of welded joints of magnesium alloys are pointed out and measures are presented, which contribute to the improvement of the corrosion behaviour.     

Fatigue behaviour of laser repairing welded joints

This paper presents a fatigue study in Nd-YAG laser surface repairing welded joints in specimens of two base materials used in mould production. The tests were carried out in a servo-hydraulic machine in tension, under constant amplitude loading, with two stress ratios R = 0 and R = 0.4. Welded specimens were prepared with U notches and filled with laser welding deposits. The fatigue results are presented in the form of S–N curves obtained in welded and non-welded conditions. Complementary measurements of hardness and residual stresses profiles were carried out along the surface of laser welded specimens to understand the observed fatigue behaviour. The melted material was the weaker region, with lower values of hardness and higher tensile residual stresses, presenting also a high number of defects that are potential failure sites. The presence of such defects can explain the relatively poor fatigue strength of the laser repairing joints in comparison to base materials.     

Fatigue strength of mash seam welded joints

Reversed bending fatigue tests have been conducted using four series of mash seam welded joints obtained from the coupling of two different steels and plate thicknesses. Fatigue strength was evaluated and the effects of material property changes resulting from welding were studied. Fatigue strength of all series of the welded joints decreased slightly compared with that of the base steel. Type of steel and plate thickness in the welded samples exerted very little influence on fatigue strength. In the welded joints between steels with the same plate thickness, fatigue failure took place at a location away from the weld zone in the plate with the lower strength, while in the welded joints between plates of different thickness, failure occurred at the shoulder between the thin and thick plate, i.e. at the weld zone. Regardless of the type of steel and the plate thicknesses joined, fatigue strengths of the mash seam welded joints were slightly higher than those of the laser welded butt joints.     

Strength enhancement of the welded structures by ultrasonic peening

Residual stresses exist in all manufacturing processes which use heat and/or force such as casting, forming, machining and welding. Sometimes they cause decrease in strength and life of components especially under dynamic loads and vibration conditions. To improve fatigue strength, a number of post treatment operations are being used such as grinding, shot peening, re-melting and heat treatment. Ultrasonic peening is a newly developed method for the improvement of fatigue strength of, mainly, welded joints and structures. By employing this process, geometry of weld toe can be modified for reducing the stress concentration. In addition, elimination of tensile residual stresses, exertion of compressive residual stresses and closing of cracks, voids and cavities are expected, too. The extra advantage of this technology is its application on massive and large structures which cannot be treated by other procedures. For investigating the effect of ultrasonic peening on stainless steel-304 welded parts, a series of experiments were designed and implemented. Ultrasonic peening is mostly used as a mechanical surface treatment method in the automotive and aerospace industries. However, this paper comprises the results of experimental fatigue strength tests along with metallography, micro hardness and corrosion resistance tests of welded pieces with and without processing by ultrasonic peening. Experiments proved that under post treatment by ultrasonic peening, a better mechanical and corrosion resistance is achieved.     

Annealing temperature effects on superduplex stainless steel UNS S32750 welded joints. II: pitting corrosion resistance evaluation

This study deals with the effect of the annealing temperature on the pitting corrosion resistance of UNS S32750 submerged-arc welded joints. In a companion article (Part I), the influence of post-weld annealing temperature on microstructure evolution and chemical composition of austenite and ferrite was analyzed; this study can thus be considered directly connected with the previous one. The pitting corrosion resistance of the heat-treated welded joints was evaluated by using both electrochemical measurements and ASTM G48 standard gravimetric tests; examinations of initiation sites of pitting attack were carried out in order to correlate the experimental data obtained in this study with the predicted pitting corrosion behavior obtained by using the results described in Part I. Generally, the post-weld annealing treatment enhances the pitting corrosion resistance of UNS S32750 welded joints. By using PREN analysis of single phases, a correlation between the chemical composition evolution of ferrite and austenite and the experimental pitting behavior of the welded joints was found, in relation to welding and post-welding heat treatment temperature. In particular, an exponential relationship between PREN of weaker phase and pitting potential in 3.5% NaCl solution at 80 °C for the weld metal was obtained. The most favorable annealing temperature for the analyzed welded joints was found to be 1100 °C.     

金属材料在铝液中腐蚀行为的研究

为获得铝液腐蚀工况下金属材料的选用原则,运用静态铝液浸没腐蚀试验,研究了QT350、HT300、H13、Cr13、Ta、Mo在铝液中的腐蚀行为.结果表明:所选金属材料在试验条件下均与铝液反应生成金属间化合物层;所选金属材料在铝液中的平均腐蚀深度由高到低依次为QT350、H13、Cr13、HT300、Ta、Mo,难熔金属Ta、Mo具有优异的耐铝液腐蚀性能;QT350、HT300、H13、Cr13腐蚀后表面形成大量点状蚀坑,其在铝液中的腐蚀为非均匀腐蚀;Ta、Mo腐蚀后表面平整,其在铝液中的腐蚀为均匀腐蚀.     

低铬铁素体不锈钢晶间腐蚀敏感性的测试方法及性能

研究了爆炸复合板复层06Cr13R低铬铁素体不锈钢的晶间腐蚀敏感性测试方法及性能。结果表明：电化学动电位扫描法（双环EPR法）适合用于爆炸复合板复层06Cr13R低铬铁素体不锈钢晶间腐蚀敏感性的检测,其试验结果与草酸电解侵蚀法对应较好;06Cr13R低铬铁素体不锈钢的晶间腐蚀敏感性与铬-镍奥氏体不锈钢不同,其晶间腐蚀敏感性出现在910℃正火处理后,甚至强制吹风急冷条件下也无法避免,而经过800℃退火处理后,其晶间腐蚀敏感性可减轻。     

Failure assessment on offshore girth welded pipelines due to corrosion defects

Corrosion is an electrochemical process in offshore pipelines where the material strength begins to decrease as corrosion advances. Numerous studies have been performed to determine the remaining strengths (failure pressure) of corroded pipelines. Currently the axial corrosions of the girth welded pipelines still leave much to be understood. This study attempted to simulate girth welded pipeline with various corroded depths and lengths in order to compare with offshore pipeline design manuals. Based on the numerical results, the influence of corrosion defects parameters on remaining strengths were investigated for girth welded pipelines. The investigation on the effect of strength mismatch revealed that in the cases of under‐matched, higher failure pressures are obtained. Comparisons of current results with B31G‐2012 and DNV‐RP‐F101 demonstrated that both codes may produce somewhat conservative predictions on the failure pressure. Furthermore, an equation was proposed to evaluate the corrosion progress across girth welded pipelines.     

强动载荷下焊接钢板力学性能及本构模型研究

为研究强动载荷下船用焊接钢板的力学性能。开展了典型船用焊接钢板母材、焊缝和热影响区的准静态拉伸试验、高温拉伸试验及SHPB动态压缩试验,分析了焊接钢板材料在不同应力状态下的力学行为,基于力学性能试验结果拟合了焊接钢板母材、焊缝和热影响区材料的本构模型。结果表明:准静态条件下,与母材相比,焊缝和热影响区材料的屈服强度与抗拉强度偏大,延伸率偏小;高应变率下,热影响区材料抵抗塑性变形的能力明显强于其他两种材料,且随着应变率的增加抵抗塑性变形的能力呈增强趋势;焊接板母材、焊缝与热影响区材料均表现出应变率效应和温度效应;热影响区是焊接板抗冲击性能相对薄弱的区域。建立的Johnson-Cook模型可以描述强动载荷下焊接钢板的力学性能。     

High strain and long duration cycling behavior of laser welded NiTi sheets

The use of NiTi in complex shaped components for structural applications is limited by the material cost and machinability and adequate joining techniques have been investigated to minimize the thermal cycle effect on the superelastic and shape memory effects exhibited by NiTi. Laser welding is the most used joining process for this material. However, existing studies mainly address the functional properties of laser welded NiTi wires, and the superelastic cycling tests are limited to either a low number of cycles (maximum 100) or to low strains (below 6%). This paper discusses the results of the cycling behavior exhibited by laser butt welded 1 mm thick NiTi plates, when tested to high strains (up to 10%) and for a large number of cycles (600). The superelastic effect was observed and the microstructural changes induced by the laser welding procedure, namely the extension of the thermal affected regions, were seen to influence the evolution of the accumulated irrecoverable strain. Thus, it is possible, by controlling the heat input introduced during welding, to tune the maximum superelastic recovery presented by NiTi laser welds.     

Mechanical and microstructural properties of robotic Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) welded 5083-H111 and 6082-T651 aluminum alloys

5083-H111 and 6082-T651 aluminum alloys used particularly in shipbuilding industry especially for the sake of their high corrosion resistance and moderate strength, were welded using Pulsed Robotic Cold Metal Transfer (CMT)-Metal Inert Gas (MIG) technology. Joints were fabricated as both similar and dissimilar alloy welds using plates with a thickness of 6 mm. Non-destructive tests such as visual and radiological examination were conducted before further destructive tests. Tensile, bend and fatigue tests were applied to specimens extracted from welded joints. Fracture surfaces of fatigue samples were examined by light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also macro and microstructures of weld zones were investigated and micro hardness profiles were obtained. In accordance with results, CMT-MIG provides good joint efficiency with high welding speed, and good tensile and fatigue performance.     

A study of fatigue crack growth from artificial corrosion pits at welded joints under complex stress fields

The paper studies the effects of artificial corrosion pits and complex stress fields on the fatigue crack growth of full penetration load‐carrying fillet cruciform welded joints with 45° inclined angle. Parameters of fatigue crack growth rate of welded joints are obtained from S‐N curves under different levels of corrosion. A numerical method is used to simulate fatigue crack growth using different mixed mode fatigue crack growth criteria. Using polynomial regression, the crack shape correction factor of welded joints is fitted as a function of crack depth ratios. Because the maximum circumferential stress criterion is simple and easy to use in practice, fatigue crack growth rate is modified using this criterion. The relationship of effective stress intensity factor, crack growth angle and crack depth is studied under different corrosion levels. The simulated crack growth path obtained from the numerical method is compared with the actual crack growth path observed by fatigue tests. The results show that fatigue cracks do not initiate at the edge or bottom of pits but at the weld toes where the maximum stress occurs. The artificial corrosion pits have little effect on the effective stress intensity factor ranges and crack growth angle. The fatigue crack growth rates of welded joints with pits 1 and 2 are 1.15 times and 1.40 times larger than that of the welded joint with no pit, respectively. The simulated crack growth path agrees well with the actual one. The fatigue life prediction accuracy using the modified formulation is improved by about 18%. The crack shape correction factor obtained using the maximum circumferential stress criterion is recommended being used to calculate fatigue life.