Repair welding of cracked turbine shroud using matching composition consumables

Abstract

Repair welding of a crack in the III-stage shroud of a high pressure turbine, was carried out using matching composition ER 410 filler wire by the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process with ultra high purity argon as shielding and backing gas. The development of the repair welding procedure involved laboratory studies for the selection of a suitable ER410 filler wire, optimisation of welding parameters and PWHT. Mock up welding under simulated on-site constraints confirmed the feasibility to produce in situ sound weld joint. In situ repair welding and localised PWHT was carried out successfully. NDT and in situ metallography of the repair-welded region confirmed adequate tempering of the martensitic weldment during the localised PWHT.     

Improving 410NiMo weld metal toughness by PWHT

Highlights of the present study is the importance of choosing suitable temperatures for two stage PWHT to achieve desirable toughness in the weld metals produced by ER 410NiMo filler wire. Weld pads prepared using this filler wire was used for extensive metallurgical characterization of the weld metal. Results indicate by choosing appropriate temperatures for the PWHT, it is possible to obtain toughness in the weld metal which is comparable to the toughness reported for the base metal of similar composition. Good toughness of the weld metal is attributed to the presence of retained austenite in the weld metal. Two stage PWHT that gave excellent toughness for the weld metal was employed for repair of cracked shrouds of a steam turbine in a nuclear power plant. The metallurgical characterization of the mock up weld pad prepared prior to actual repair confirmed that microstructure and hardness of the weld metal are similar to those obtained during the welding procedure development.     

Fatigue crack growth under a constant amplitude loading of Al-6061-T6 welds obtained by modified indirect electric arc technique

Abstract

The characteristics of the fatigue crack growth in the base metal, weld metal and heat affected zone (HAZ) were quantified by testing compact type specimens of 6061-T6 welds obtained by the modified indirect electric arc technique. The fatigue crack growth depends on the microstructure imposed by the welding thermal cycle and it was observed that in the HAZ the crack growth rate is lower than that in the weld metal, but higher than that in the base metal. Microhardness maps revealed that this behaviour is due to the formation of a larger plastic zone around of the crack tip produced by loss of hardening. A comparison of fatigue crack growth of weld metal and HAZ for modified indirect electric arc and friction stir welding shows that the weld metal produced by friction stir welding exhibits better resistance to crack propagation, but both processes behaved similarly in the HAZ.     

Effect of minor change in composition on toughness of weldmetal for repair of turbine blades made of martensitic stainless steel

Abstract

Repair welding procedure for cracked turbine blades, made of 13Cr–2˙6Ni–1˙1Mo martensitic stainless steel, has been developed using gas tungsten arc welding process and a twin wire filler metal. The twin wire consists of a 1˙5 mm diameter ER 16-8-2 and a 2˙0 mm diameter ER 410 filler wires tack welded along the length of the two filler wires. A two stage post-weld heat treatment at 675°C for 2 h and 615°C for 4 h, such that the first heat treatments is above the Ac ₁ temperatures of the weld metal and the second is just below its Ac ₁ temperature; has been found to be suitable for obtaining good mechanical properties for the weldment. The weldment has a good combination of transverse weldment strength and weldmetal toughness, with its room temperature yield strength and Charpy V notch impact toughness being similar to that of the turbine blade material.     

Fatigue crack growth of bainitic rail steel welds

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to develop and evaluate novel weld repairs of bainitic rail steel defects, such as detail fracture, induced by in service loading. Slots were machined in the bainitic rail steel to simulate the removal of service defects. Multipass gas metal arc welding was used to fill and repair the slots. Three-point bend tests of the parent and welded steels revealed that the flexural weld efficiency was 75%. Fatigue crack propagation (FCP) tests were performed on specimens from the welded joints and compared with the parent materials to determine the mechanical integrity of the slot repairs. The fatigue lifetime and FCP kinetics were similar for the parent and slot welded bainitic steels, indicating similar resistance to FCP. The fatigue fracture surface morphology of the parent and welded bainitic rail steels both revealed mostly a ductile fracture mechanism in all the three FCP stages.     

Determination of the melting rate of coated electrodes in manual arc welding with modulated current

Summary

This study deals with shielded metal arc (manual metal arc, MMA) welding and CO₂ gas shielded arc welding, measuring the force required to remove adhering spatter from the surface of base metal by using different filler metals and by changing the conditions of the surface of the base metal. Rolled steel for general structural use (SS400) was used as base metal.

A high titanium oxide type electrode and a low hydrogen type electrode were used for shielded metal arc welding, a solid wire and a flux‐cored wire were used as filler metal for CO₂ gas shielded arc welding respectively. In order to examine the relationship between the condition of the surface of the base metal and the force required to remove spatter, a base metal whose surface was ground by an electric grinder, one which was not ground by an electric grinder, and another which was coated with an anti‐spatter compound were used for the experiments.

Whichever filler metal was used, the spatter which adhered to the surface of the base metal was located within 100 millimetres from the weld line. In those cases, the force required to remove the adhering spatter can be measured as mostly below 98 N. The spatter needing more than 98 N to remove was located mostly within 20 mm of the weld line.

No matter whether the scale was on the base metal or not, the difference of the force required to remove the spatter was small. When we used the base metal coated with anti‐spatter compound, in some cases we found spatter on the base metal, and in other cases we did not. When we found spatter, it was located within 40 millimetres of the weld line and the force required to remove it was below 20 N.     

新型铝合金薄板对接激光焊接头性能

以6156铝合金为主要研究对象,对比了其激光填丝焊与自熔焊各自特点,探讨了焊缝表面成形、焊缝熔宽的影响因素及接头的抗拉强度与疲劳强度变化规律.结果表明,功率在1 800 W左右,焊接速度在2～3.5 mm/min,送丝速度在2～3.5 mm/min范围能获得较好的焊缝表面成形;接头焊后不经热处理抗拉强度可达314.3 MPa,为母材强度的81.3%,且有良好的抗疲劳性能;铝合金激光焊具有焊接速度高、焊缝成形美观、焊接参数范围广的特点,是一种良好的焊接方式.     

焊接方法对超低碳马氏体不锈钢焊丝熔敷金属冲击韧性的影响

针对大型水轮机转轮焊缝金属冲击韧性偏低,研究了不同焊接方法和气体含量对超低碳马氏体不锈钢熔敷金属冲击韧性的影响.结果表明,TIG焊和激光-MIG复合热源焊可有效提高熔敷金属的冲击韧性.TIG焊适合于不锈钢转轮的少量补焊,激光-MIG复合热源焊可在叶片与上冠及下环的组焊中推广应用.随着熔敷金属中C,[O],[N]元素含量的增加,熔敷金属的冲击韧性降低,但[O]元素含量是控制冲击韧性的决定因素.当熔敷金属中[O]元素含量较高时,形成较多球形氧化夹杂物,成为裂纹源,降低了冲击启裂功和裂纹扩展功,使冲击韧性明显降低.     

Microstructure and high temperature properties of the dissimilar weld between ferritic stainless steel and carbon steel

Dissimilar joints between STS441, a ferritic stainless steel, and SS400, a carbon steel, were welded by GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) using STS430LNb as a welding wire. The fracture behavior of the dissimilar weld was analyzed by a microstructural observation and thermo-mechanical tests. Martensite was formed at the region between SS400 and the weld metal because the Cr and Nb content in this region decreased due to the dilution of SS400 carbon steel during welding. According to results from a high temperature tensile test with a specimen aged at 900 °C, it was found that the tensile strength of the dissimilar weld at high temperature was equal to that of STS441 base metal and the formation of martensite had little influence on tensile strength of the dissimilar weld at high temperature. However, in the case of thermal fatigue resistance, the dissimilar weld had an inferior thermal fatigue life to STS441 because of the presence of martensite and the softened region around the interface between the dissimilar weld metal and SS400.     

Study on ac-PMIG welding of AZ31B magnesium alloy

Abstract

Welding of AZ31B magnesium alloy is carried out using alternating current pulsed metal inert gas (ac-PMIG) welding with 1·6 mm diameter of filler wire. Typical current waveform is used to make sure arc given an accurate energy input into filler wire. The arc characteristics, metal transfer forms, microstructure and mechanical property of ac-PMIG welding of AZ31B magnesium are investigated. The results show that a stable welding procedure and continuous joints can be obtained easily under a wide range of welding parameters. The most important factors for ac-PMIG welding are negative electrode (EN) ratio and pulse rework current, which give an accurate energy input into filler wire. The grain in fusion zone is much finer and more uniform, and grain size does not grow significantly in the heat affected zone compared with base metal. The average ultimate tensile strength of weld beads is 97·2% of base metal.     

Effect of filler wire on the joint properties of AZ31 magnesium alloys using CO2 laser welding

Laser welding with filler wire of AZ31 magnesium alloys is investigated using a CO2 laser experimental system. The effect of three different filler wires on the joint properties is researched. The results show that the weld appearance can be effectively improved when using laser welding with filler wire. The microhardness and tensile strength of joints are almost the same us those of the base metal when ER AZ31 or ER AZ61 wire is adopted. However, when the filler wire of ER 5356 aluminum alloy is used, the mechanical properties of flints become worse. For ER AZ31 and ER AZ61 filler wires, the microstructure of weld zone slws small dendrite grains. In comparison, for ER 5356 filler wire, the weld shows a structure of snowy dendrites and many intermetallic compounds and eutectic phases distribute in the dendrites. These intermetallic constituents with low melting point increase the tendency of hot crack and result in fiagile joint properties. Therefore, ER AZ31 and ER AZ61 wire are more suitable filler material than ER 5356 for CO2 laser welding of AZ31 magnesium alloys.     

Hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth of AISI 316L stainless steel weld

The fatigue crack growth behaviors of AISI 316L stainless steel (SS) welds in air and gaseous hydrogen were evaluated, and further compared with the base plate. In air, the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) of the weld after heat-treatment at 1050 ^oC/1 h was similar to that of the base metal. Furthermore, all specimens became susceptible to hydrogen-accelerated crack growth. Mainly quasi-cleavage fracture related with the strain-induced martensite accounted for the accelerated crack growth in hydrogen. A smaller amount of martensite in the weld was responsible for the decreased susceptibility to hydrogen-enhanced fatigue crack growth relative to the base metal.     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of bonding layers between low carbon steel and alloy 625 processed by gas tungsten arc welding

A filler metal wire, Alloy 625, was cladded on a plate of a low carbon streel, SS400, by gas tungsten arc welding, and the morphology of the weld bead and resulting dilution ratio were investigated under different welding parameter values (the input current, weld speed and wire feed speed). The wire feed speed was found to be most influential in controlling the dilution ratio of the weld bead, and seemed to limit the influence of other welding parameters. Two extreme welding conditions (with the minimum and maximum dilution ratios) were identified, and the corresponding microstructures, hardness and tensile properties near the bond line were compared between the two cases. The weld bead with the minimum dilution ratio showed superior hardness and tensile properties, while the formation lath martensite (due to relatively fast cooling) affected mechanical properties in the heat affected zone of the base metal with the maximum dilution ratio.     

Computer-aided experiment on arc welding

Fatigue properties of cast aluminium welded joints by friction stir welding (FSW) and MIG welding were investigated, comparing with that of the base plate. Fatigue crack propagation tests for the da/dN ? ΔK relation and bending fatigue tests for the S–N relation were carried out. Fatigue cracks in both FSW and MIG specimens were accelerated, when the fatigue crack tip reached the stir zone or the weld metal. This behaviour was discussed based on the crack closure induced by the crack surface roughness and the residual stress. In the S–N properties, the influence of specimen surface finishing on fatigue life was also examined. Fatigue lives of the FSW and MIG specimens in the ‘as weld’ condition were in the range of the largely scattered base plate fatigue lives, in spite of the different fatigue crack initiation sites in each specimen such as the porosity in the base plate, the tool mark bottom in the FSW and the weld toe in the MIG. The FSW specimens with the polished surface showed the particular improvement in fatigue strength for finite fatigue life.     

Thermomechanical and isothermal fatigue behaviour of type 316 stainless steel base metal,weld metal,and joint

Abstract

In phase thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) in the temperature range 573–973 K (300–700°C) and isothermal fatigue behaviour at 973 K in air were studied for type 316 stainless steel using smooth cylindrical specimens machined from base metal, weld metal, and the weld joint (cross-weld). In all joint specimens, fatigue failure occurred in the weld metal region. The lifetimes of weld metal and joint specimens were almost equal and were always inferior to those of base metal specimens. In the base metal, the effect of strain rate on the isothermal fatigue life was not very significant. Although TMF lifetimes were always a little shorter than the isothermal fatigue lifetimes in base metal, the difference was small for the same mechanical strain range and similar strain rate. This may be because the fracture mode for both types of loading was of a similar mixed type. Conversely, a dramatic reduction in lifetime was observed in weld metal and joint specimens under TMF in comparison with isothermal fatigue. This was attributed to the additional damage caused by many independent subsurface cracks at σ phase boundaries and linkage of these cracks with the surface crack, leading to rapid crack propagation. The δ ferrite in the weld metal completely transformed to σ phase in both the isothermal fatigue and TMF tests.     

Research on Prediction Method of Liquation Cracking Susceptibility to Magnesium Alloy WeldsEI北大核心CSCD

Magnesium alloys has a wide application prospect due to their good properties, such as high specific strength and specific stiffness, but the susceptibility of liquation cracking is also pretty high. The liquation in partially melted zone of AZ-series magnesium alloys were investigated with circular-patch welding test. The AZ91, AZ31 base alloys were welded with AZ61 and AZ92 filler wires by using the cold metal transter metal inert-gas (CMT-MIG) welding. The results show that, the liquation occurred along the weld edge of AZ91 with the eutectic reaction occurring between gamma(Mg17Al12) phase and Mg-rich phase. The liquation susceptibility of AZ31 was pretty low as gamma(Mg17Al12) was not present in base metal of AZ31. Meanwhile, a new method for predicting liquation cracking based on binary phase diagram was proposed. When the initial solidification temperature of weld is higher and the solidification temperature range of weld is shorter than those of base metal, the liquation crack susceptibility of weld is mostly higher. When the initial solidification temperature of weld is close to or below that of base metal, and the solidification temperature range of weld is close to or longer than that of base metal, the liquation cracking susceptibility of weld is lower. This method worked well on predicting the effect of composition of base metal and filler wires on liquation cracking, and the predicting results are consistent with the experimental results. That is, the liquation cracking susceptibility is higher with AZ91 base metal used than that with AZ31 base metal. And, the liquation cracking susceptibility is lower with AZ92 filler wire than that with AZ61 filler wire.     

The behavior of welded dissimilar metals structures under rotating reversed cyclic bending

A cantilever type rotating bending testing machine was used to test several welded specimens, these consisted of welding of steel ST60 to stainless steel SS304, and welding of steel ST60 to stainless steel SS316, using different filler types of stainless steel SS308, SS309 and SS310. The effect on the heat affected zone (HAZ) was investigated. Fracture surface examinations were also carried out. The numerical analysis adopted the finite element package ABAQUS^® to model the welded specimens. Elasto-plastic non-linear analysis was conducted for stress distribution contours. von Mises stresses were obtained as well as crack initiation fatigue life. Both numerical and experimental studies were carried out at four different levels of applied stress from 0.6S_y to 1.2S_y at steps of 0.2S_y. The developed maximum stresses exhibited linear behavior followed by non-linear behavior with further increase of applied stress. The filler type had a pronounced effect on the developed stress such that higher stresses were obtained for filler SS308 and lower stresses for SS309 and for SS310, respectively. The crack initiation fatigue life decreased non-linearly with increasing the applied stress and it was greatly affected by the type of filler material; filler SS310 had higher fatigue life cycles than SS309 while SS308 had the lowest fatigue life cycles. The crack initiation fatigue life (N_i) and failure life (N_f) exponentially decreased with the increase in the applied stress. The experimental and numerical results were in good agreement. The SS310 filler, which has the highest Cr%, Mn% and Ni% is the best filler for welding ST60 to SS304 and also for welding ST60 to SS304, and it is recommended for such welding applications.     

一种核电核岛主设备用镍基焊丝的研制

通过试验分析了核电核岛主设备用镍基焊丝中各元素对焊丝和焊缝熔敷金属性能的影响.结果表明,随着焊丝中Al,Ti,Mn,Nb元素含量的增加,焊丝的强度、硬度及焊缝金属的抗拉强度增加;随着焊丝中Al,Ti,Nb元素含量的增加,室温焊缝熔敷金属的冲击吸收功增加;随着焊丝中Mn元素含量的增加,焊缝熔敷金属的冲击吸收功降低.通过调整焊丝成分得到了符合核电核岛主设备使用要求的焊缝熔敷金属.     

AZ31镁合金CO2激光填丝焊工艺

采用CO2激光焊接试验系统,对AZ31镁合金的激光填丝焊工艺进行了研究.试验中采用AZ31焊丝作为填充金属,对各种焊接工艺参数的影响进行了较系统地研究,并获得了较好的工艺参数选择范围.焊后对典型的焊接接头的性能进行了研究,结果表明,在适当的填丝速率下,填丝焊工艺形成的焊缝成形更加美观,克服了不填丝焊接情况下焊缝的严重下塌问题.微观组织分析表明,焊接接头区域主要由细小的枝状晶组成,晶粒明显细化.焊接接头的显微硬度和抗拉强度都接近母材,说明获得的焊缝具有较好的力学性能.表明了CO2激光填丝焊工艺是实现AZ31镁合金焊接的有效方法.     

错边对钢悬链立管横焊接头疲劳性能的影响

采用填丝TIG方法进行了不同错边量的立管环缝横焊试验,对其接头试样在80,120和175 MPa应力范围下进行了疲劳试验,研究错边对横焊环缝接头疲劳性能的影响. 结果表明,错边方式对横焊接头疲劳裂纹起裂位置有重要影响,“上错边”接头的疲劳裂纹主要从根部焊趾上侧起裂,无错边接头的疲劳裂纹主要从根部焊趾下侧起裂,而“下错边”接头的疲劳裂纹则全部从根部焊趾下侧起裂;在相同应力范围下,试样的疲劳循环周次随错边量的增大而降低,当错边量超过0.60 mm后,疲劳循环周次会显著下降.