Brittle fracture initiation associated with the strain localization in a heat-affected zone of a low carbon steel

Brittle fracture initiation in the ductile-brittle fracture transition region in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of weldments of a low carbon steel has been investigated. Consistent with the previous results from blunt notch Charpy tests, brittle fracture initiation was observed in the case of J-integral tests to take place at the intersection of small bainitic ferrite grains of different orientations within a mixed area of bainitic ferrite and quasipolygonal ferrite in proximity to the boundary between a coarse bainitic ferrite. Partial load drop during loading, pop-in phenomena, in fracture mechanics tests in the low-temperature region is caused by essentially the same mechanism as for unstable brittle fracture initiation. Inhomogeneous microstructure in the HAZ gives rise to intense strain localizations in the mixed area of bainitic ferrite and quasipolygonal ferrite due to the constraint of plastic deformation therein and may produce accumulated defects that form an incipient crack for the brittle fracture. Partial load drop proceeds in association with repetitive initiations of brittle facets and their ductile linking. The strong temperature dependence of the magnitude of partial load drop is likely to show that the temperature dependence of the brittle fracture initiation is controlled by the first initiation of a brittle facet and the ductile linking with the following induced facets. Existence of coarse bainitic ferrite grains is a prerequisite for the extension of an incipient crack.     

Fracture process of a low carbon low alloy steel relevant to charpy toughness at ductile-brittle fracture transition region

The fracture process that determines the Charpy energy at the ductile-brittle transition region was investigated by means of the instrumented Charpy test and fractographic analysis with a low carbon low alloy steel subjected to different control-rolling conditions. The decomposition of a Charpy energy into the energies dissipated in the course of the notch-tip blunting, stable crack growth, and brittle crack propagation is unique irrespective of the testing temperatures and specimen series. Toughness level can be divided into four regions according to the pre-dominating fracture process. The temperature dependence of toughness and effects of the an-isotropy of a specimen originates in the brittle fracture initiation stage rather than the resistance against the notch-tip blunting or stable crack growth. From fractographic examination referring to the stress analyses, it is discussed that the brittle fracture initiation is controlled by the local deformation microstructures in the plastic zone together with the stress field ahead of the notch or the stable crack front. Formerly Graduate Student, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Waseda University     

Mechanisms and modeling of cleavage fracture in simulated heat-affected zone microstructures of a high-strength low alloy steel

The effect of the welding cycle on the fracture toughness properties of high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steels is examined by means of thermal simulation of heat-affected zone (HAZ) microstructures. Tensile tests on notched bars and fracture toughness tests at various temperatures are performed together with fracture surface observations and cross-sectional analyses. The influence of martensite-austenite (M-A) constituents and of “crystallographic” bainite packets on cleavage fracture micromechanisms is, thus, evidenced as a function of temperature. Three weakest-link probabilistic models (the “Master-curve” (MC) approach, the Beremin model, and a “double-barrier” (DB) model) are applied to account for the ductile-to-brittle transition (DBT) fracture toughness curve. Some analogy, but also differences, are found between the MC approach and the Beremin model. The DB model, having nonfitted, physically based scatter parameters, is applied to the martensite-containing HAZ microstructures and gives promising results.     

Mechanisms and modeling of cleavage fracture in simulated heat-affected zone microstructures of a high-strength low alloy steel

The effect of the welding cycle on the fracture toughness properties of high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steels is examined by means of thermal simulation of heat-affected zone (HAZ) microstructures. Tensile tests on notched bars and fracture toughness tests at various temperatures are performed together with fracture surface observations and cross-sectional analyses. The influence of martensite-austenite (M-A) constituents and of “crystallographic” bainite packets on cleavage fracture micromechanisms is, thus, evidenced as a function of temperature. Three weakest-link probabilistic models (the “Master-curve” (MC) approach, the Beremin model, and a “double-barrier” (DB) model) are applied to account for the ductile-to-brittle transition (DBT) fracture toughness curve. Some analogy, but also differences, are found between the MC approach and the Beremin model. The DB model, having nonfitted, physically based scatter parameters, is applied to the martensite-containing HAZ microstructures and gives promising results.     

Effect of magnesium addition in low carbon steel part 2: toughness and microstructure of the simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone

A critical investigation into the role of Mg on the toughness and microstructure of coarse grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) in low carbon steel has been investigated. In this research, the specimens (Mg-free and Mg-added) underwent weld thermal cycle with heat input of 54, 80, and 100?kJ?cm^?1 at 1350°C peak temperature using a thermal simulator. The typical inclusions characteristics were characterised by means of scanning electron microscopy and equilibrium calculations. The precipitates were characterised by transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. It is revealed that the occurrence of Mg in steel mostly exists in the form of Mg-Al-O oxide inclusions, but a few in the form of solid solution state and (Nb,Ti)(C,N)+MgO precipitates when the concentration of Mg is 0.0026%. The improvement of CGHAZ toughness is obtained when the heat input is 80 and 100?kJ?cm^?1. The possible reasons about the effects of Mg on the toughness of CGHAZ, including Mg-Al-O inclusions, precipitates, and soluble Mg, are discussed in detail.     

Simulation study on heat-affected zone of high-strain X80 pipeline steel

The microstructure evolution and impact-toughness variation of heat-affected zone(HAZ)in X80 highstrain pipeline steel were investigated via a welding thermal-simulation technique,Charpy impact tests,and scanning electron microscopy observations under different welding heat inputs and peak temperatures.The results indicate that when heat input was between 17 and 25kJ·cm~(-1),the coarse-grained heat-affected zone showed improved impact toughness.When the heat input was increased further,the martensite-austenite(M-A)islands transformed from fine lath into a massive block.Therefore,impact toughness was substantially reduced.When the heat input was 20kJ·cm~(-1) and the peak temperature of the first thermal cycle was between 900 and 1300°C,a higher impact toughness was obtained.When heat input was 20kJ·cm~(-1) and the peak temperature of the first thermal cycle was 1300°C,the impact toughness value at the second peak temperature of 900°C was higher than that at the second peak temperature of 800°C because of grain refining and uniformly dispersed M-A constituents in the matrix of bainite.     

Microstructural changes in HSLA-100 steel thermally cycled to simulate the heat-affected zone during welding

The microstructural changes that occur in a commercial HSLA-100 steel thermally cycled to simulate weld heat affected zone (HAZ) behavior were systematically investigated primarily by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Eight different weld thermal cycles, with peak temperatures representative of four HAZ regions (the tempered region, the intercritical region, the fine-grained austenitized region, and the coarse-grained austenitized region) and cooling rates characteristic of high heat input (cooling rate (CR) = 5 °C/s) and low heat input (CR = 60 °C/s) welding were simulated in a heating/quenching dilatometer. The as-received base plate consisted of heavily tempered lath martensite, acicular ferrite, and retained austenite matrix phases with precipitates of copper, niobiumcarbonitride, and cementite. The microstructural changes in both the matrix and precipitate phases due to thermal cycling were examined by TEM and correlated with the results of (1) conventional optical microscopy, (2) prior austenite grain size measurements, (3) microhardness testing, and (4) dilatometric analysis. Many of the thermal cycles resulted in dramatic changes in both the microstructures and the properties due to the synergistic interaction between the simulated position in the HAZ and the heat input. Some of these microstructures deviate substantially from those predicted from published continuous cooling transformation (CCT) curves. The final microstructure was predominantly dependent upon peak temperature(i.e., position within the HAZ), although the cooling rate(i.e., heat input) strongly affected the microstructures of the simulated intercritical and finegrained austenitized regions. A. MATUSZESKI, formerly Summer Student, Physical Metallurgy Branch, Naval Research Laboratory.     

Hydrogen attack behavior of the heat affected zone of a 2.25Cr-1Mo steel weldment

The kinetics of hydrogen attack (HA) has been studied in the heat affected zone (HAZ) in a 2.25Cr-1Mo steel weld to determine the relative rates of attack and bubble nucleation in the HAZ, base metal, and weld metal. The HAZ was found to suffer hydrogen attack at nearly twice the rate of the base metal, but not as rapidly as the weld metal. Nucleation of bubbles does not occur during HA of the HAZ of a 2.25Cr-1Mo steel, on exposure to hydrogen pressure of 20.5 MPa or less, but does occur at higher pressures up to 31.5 MPa (4500 psi) at 550 °C, or up to 27.5 MPa (4000 psi) at 580 °C. Such nucleation results in enhancement of the HA rate by a factor of six. The weak dependence of nucleation effects on hydrogen pressure and the saturation of the nucleation effects in a short time suggest some thermally activated nucleation of fresh bubbles. Formerly with The Ohio State University.     

微合金钢第Ⅲ脆性区的形成机理

为研究微合金钢第Ⅲ脆性区形成机理及其影响因素,控制连铸坯的表面裂纹,采用Gleeble热力模拟机测定了S355微合金钢在不同温度下的抗拉强度及断面收缩率。使用扫描电镜对拉伸断口进行观察分析,同时采用透射电镜对析出物进行观察分析。在此基础上对拉伸试样进行金相实验,对第二相析出进行热力学计算,分析了组织状态及第二相析出规律对脆性区的影响。结果表明,在第Ⅲ脆性区(660~850℃)内,拉伸断口呈冰糖状,韧窝较浅,形貌表现为沿晶脆性断裂。铁素体网膜沿奥氏体晶界优先析出、第二相沿晶界析出是第Ⅲ脆性区形成的主要原因。     

Microstructure of the heat-affected zone in 17–4 PH stainless steel

The microstructure of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) in bead-on-plate welded 17–4 PH stainless steel was studied with special reference to the roles of prior heat treatment and heat input during welding. The HAZ in solution-annealed condition consists of three different microstructural zones containing: (i) retransformed martensite and reformed austenite; (ii) overaged martensite; and (iii) under-aged martensite. In aged condition the HAZ consists of zones (i) and (ii), while in overaged condition it consists almost entirely of zone (ii). The HAZ in solution-annealed and aged conditions is characterised by steep gradients in hardness, while in overaged condition it has uniform hardness throughout. A good correlation was obtained between the calculated temperature distribution in the HAZ and the observed microstructural features.     

Cleavage initiation in the intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone: Part I. Fractographic evidence

Tensile, crack opening displacement (COD), blunt notch, and Charpy impact tests were used to investigate cleavage initiation in the intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone (IC CG HAZ) of three steels. The steels were chosen to provide different distributions and morphologies of MA (high-carbon martensite with some retained austenite) particles within the IC CG HAZ structure. Observation of minimum impact toughness values for the IC CG HAZ was found to be associated with a particular microstructure containing a near-connected grain boundary network of blocky MA particles, the MA particles being significantly harder than the internal grain microstructure. The initiation mechanism for this structure was determined to be from a combination of an overlap of residual transformational induced stress fields, due to the formation of the MA particles, between two closely spaced particles and stress concentration effects resulting from debonding of the particles.     

Influence of different microstructural features on impact toughness and crack initiation behavior of coarse grain heat-affected zone in X80 pipeline steel

Coarse grain heat-affected zone samples of X80 pipeline steel under different heat inputs were obtained through thermal welding simulation experiments with Gleeble 3500.Charpy impact tests and a combination of multiscale characterizations were conducted to investigate the influence of various microstructural features on impact toughness and crack initiation behavior.The results prove that,as the heat input increases,the number of M/A components increases,thereby degrading toughness and increasing hardness.Meanwhile,more M/A constituents tend to aggregate on prior austenite grain boundaries(PAGBs),and the overall dimensions of M/A and the width and volume fraction of the lath martensite substructure inside M/A islands would increase as well.These changes make intersections between boundary M/As and PAGBs become one of the preferred sites for crack initiation.In addition,only large-sized grotesque inclusions can act as a direct inducement of crack initiation.     

Dynamic fracture behaviour of simulated weld heat affected zone of a high strength low alloy steel

Fracture toughness properties of a simulated weld coarse grain heat affected zone (CGHAZ) in a newly developed 785 MPa grade high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel were investigated at different loading rates and a series of temperatures. It is indicated that the fracture toughness K_Ic is a single-value function of the parameter ΔH=kT In (A/ε?), implying that just like the plastic deformation, the event of fracture initiation is also controlled by dislocation thermal activation movement.     

Metallographic examination of the heat-affected zone of a test weld in a type X 20 CrMoV 12 1 steel

Metallographic examination of a similar test weld in a type X 20 CrMoV 12 1 steel revealed a martensitic phase within the heat-affected zone of the base metal adjacent to the fusion boundary. As a consequence, the heat-affected zone displayed an excess microhardness compared with the unaffected base metal. It is shown that the occurrence of this martensitic phase can be correlated with segregations in the base metal. Due to its martensitic nature, this phase can be transformed to α-ferrite and carbide by an additional tempering treatment subsequent to the standard post-weld heat treatment. By this additional tempering treatment the uniformity of the microstructure of the heat-affected zone can be considerably improved.     

低合金钢焊接热影响区的微观组织和韧性研究进展

对钢结构而言,诸如海洋平台、船舶、桥梁、建筑和油气管线等,焊接后的性能直接决定了其服役寿命和安全性,重要性不言而喻.在针对焊接相关问题的研究中,焊接热影响区的韧性提升一直是重点和难点.焊接热影响区会经历高达1400℃的高温,从而形成粗大的奥氏体晶粒,如果焊接参数控制不当,不能通过后续冷却过程中的相变细化组织,就会造成韧性的降低.而多道次焊接的情况更为复杂,前一道次形成的粗晶区还会在后续焊接过程中经历二次热循环,从而形成链状M-A,造成韧性的急剧下降.本文旨在对一些现有焊接热影响区的相关研究结果进行总结,探讨母材的成分、第二相及焊接工艺等因素对热影响区微观组织和性能的影响,为低温环境服役的大型钢结构的焊接性能改善提供一些设计思路.     

Dissolution kinetics of NbC particles in the heat-affected zone of type 347 austenitic stainless steel

Dissolution kinetics of NbC particles in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of Type 347 austenitic stainless steel were experimentally studied by a rapid cooling method. Coupons with 1.5-mm thickness were water quenched on a GLEEBLE thermomechanical simulator at various instances during the heating portion of a welding thermal cycle. Particle dissolution kinetics data were obtained by statistical analysis of digital images of resulting microstructure. For most of the test alloys, a good correlation exists between the dissolution kinetics and the susceptibility to cracking in the HAZ. The faster the Nb-carbide particles dissolve, the more resistant the alloy is to constitutional liquation cracking. The rate at which particles dissolve seems to be affected by their stoichiometry. If Nb:C ratios in bulk alloys are closer to the ideal stoichiometry of 7.7, NbC particles formed in the alloy are more likely to be stable and, hence, slower to dissolve.