Fracture behaviours of fracture toughness testing specimens with metallurgical heterogeneity along crack front

Safe use of welded structures is dependent on fracture mechanics properties of welded joints. In present research, high strength low alloyed HSLA steel in a quenched and tempered condition, corresponding to the grade HT 80, was used. The fluxo cored arc welding process (FCAW), with CO₂ as shielding gas, was used and two different tubular wires were selected. The aim of this paper is to analyse fracture behaviour of undermatched welded joints, and also to determine relevant parameters which contribute to higher critical values of fracture toughness. Towards this end three differently undermatched welded joints were analysed using results of testing the composite notched specimens with through thickness crack front positioned partly in the weld metal, partly in heat affected zone (HAZ) and partly in base material (BM).The presence of different microstructures along the pre‐crack fatigue front has an important effect on the critical crack tip opening displacement (CTOD). This value is the relevant parameter for safe service of welded structure. In the case of specimens with through thickness notch partly in the weld metal, partly in the heat affected zone and partly in the base material, i.e. using the composite notched specimen, fracture behaviour strongly depends on a partition of ductile base material, size and distribution of mismatching factor along vicinity of crack front. If local brittle zones occur in the process zone, ductile base metal can not prevent pop‐in instability, but it can reduce it to an insignificant level while the fracture toughness parameter is higher and the weakest link concept can not be applied.     

Type IV Creep Damage Behavior in Gr.91 Steel Welded Joints

Modified 9Cr-1Mo steel (ASME Grade 91 steel) is used as a key structural material for boiler components in ultra-supercritical (USC) thermal power plants at approximately 873 K (600 °C). The creep strength of welded joints of this steel decreases as a result of Type IV creep cracking that forms in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) under long-term use at high temperatures. The current article aims to elucidate the damage processes and microstructural degradations that take place in the HAZ of these welded joints. Long-term creep tests for base metal, simulated HAZ, and welded joints were conducted at 823 K, 873 K, and 923 K (550 °C, 600 °C, and 650 °C). Furthermore, creep tests of thick welded joint specimens were interrupted at several time steps at 873 K (600 °C) and 90 MPa, after which the distribution and evolution of creep damage inside the plates were measured quantitatively. It was found that creep voids are initiated in the early stages (0.2 of life) of creep rupture life, which coalesce to form a crack at a later stage (0.8 of life). In a fine-grained HAZ, creep damage is concentrated chiefly in an area approximately 20 pct below the surface of the plate. The experimental creep damage distributions coincide closely with the computed results obtained by damage mechanics analysis using the creep properties of a simulated fine-grained HAZ. Both the concentration of creep strain and the high multiaxial stress conditions in the fine-grained HAZ influence the distribution of Type IV creep damage.     

The Analysis of Low Temperature Toughness on X80 Pipeline Steel Welded Joint

Aiming at the security problems of pipeline steel application, the different positions of the welded joints of circumferentially welding pipeline of X80 steel were investigated by microstructure observation, the hardness, Charpy impact toughness and crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) test at low temperature. The Vickers hardness test results show that there are local softened regions in heat-affected zone (HAZ). Charpy impact test indicate that the ductile–brittle transition temperature of weld is below ??60 °C, the ductile–brittle transition temperature of HAZ is around ??38 °C. CTOD test reveal that the fracture toughness of HAZ shows a large fluctuation since it is in the ductile–brittle transition temperature regime.     

Effect of weld heat input and creep strain on the elevated temperature and crack growth properties of austenitic steels

A potential material class for use at 600°C and more, e.g. for steam turbines with improved thermal efficiency, are austenitic steels. Using these steels with welded joints, it is to be considered that, by superposition of weld residual stresses and service stresses, extensive creep strains – and in the worst case crack formation – can occur locally. To assess the influence of these effects on service behaviour, different material states of CrNi-steels and Incoloy 800 were investigated with respect to strength, ductility and, especially, to crack and creep crack growth in the temperature range around 600°C. It is shown that creep embrittlement, not microstructural changes as effected by weld heat input, causes heat affected zone (HAZ)-reheat cracking. Creep embrittlement can be avoided by special design and fabrication rules.     

Influence of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of an Fe E 460 TMCP steel

Welding is always accompanied by a heat treatment of the base metal. The heat affected zone (HAZ) of multilayer welded joints often shows different microstructures along the fusion line due to varying heat treatments. In order to investigate the mechanical properties of single microstructures weld simulation treatment was applied. The influence of weld simulation parameters such as heating rate and peak temperature was checked in a preliminary step. Several weld simulation treatments finally were used to explain the behaviour of real welded joints. A comparison of fracture mechanics test results from weld simulated microstructures and from real HAZ's shows good agreement for equal heat treatment conditions.     

Characteristics of Welding Crack Defects and Failure Mode in Resistance Spot Welding of DP780 Steel

The mechanical properties of welded joints in resistance spot welding of DP780 steel were tested,and three dif-ferent types of welding cracks in welded joints were investigated by optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and electron back-scattered diffraction.Finally,the failure mode of the welded joints in shear tensile test was dis-cussed.It is found the shear tensile strength of welded joints can be greatly improved by adding preheating current or tempering current.The surface crack in welded joint is intergranular fracture,while the inner crack in welded joint is transgranular fracture,and the surface crack on the edge of the electrode imprint can be improved by adding prehea-ting current or tempering current.The traditional failure mode criterion advised by American Welding Society is no longer suitable for DP780 spot welds and the critical nugget size suggested by Pouranvari is overestimated.     

Correlation of microstructure and fracture properties in weld heat- affected zones of thermomechanically controlled processed steels

This article presents a correlation study between the microstructural parameters and fracture properties in the weld heat-affected zones (HAZs) of high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steels,i.e., a normalized steel and four thermomechanically controlled processed (TMCP) steels. The influence of the local brittle zone (LBZ) on toughness was investigated by means of simulated HAZ tests as well as welded joint tests. The intercritically reheated coarse-grained HAZ ex-hibited the lowest impact energy over the testing temperature range, indicating that this region was the LBZ. By comparing the volume fraction of martensite islands with impact energy val-ues, this LBZ was attributed mainly to the significant increase in the amount of martensite. Niobium was also found to have a deleterious effect on the HAZ fracture toughness because of martensite hardening. This suggests that the formation of martensite islands must be controlled by proper design of chemical compositions to reduce the carbon equivalent and by using the proper welding conditions to limit cooling rates in order to optimize the fracture toughness of welded joints of TMCP steels.     

热输入对DP600激光焊组织和力学性能的影响

摘要：为了研究DP600钢的焊接性能,采用5种不同的激光焊接工艺进行焊接试验。结果表明,焊接接头表面成形质量良好,随着热输入的增加,上下熔宽逐渐增大;熔融区均为板条状马氏体组织,当热输入高于33J/mm时热影响区组织为马氏体、铁素体和少量的回火马氏体;当热输入低于33J/mm时,热影响区组织为马氏体和铁素体。在低热输入条件下,回火时间很短,马氏体未发生分解;在高的热输入条件下,回火时间较长,马氏体分解显著,热影响区中出现M3C型碳化物,碳化物形貌以球状和片状为主。从熔融区到母材,显微硬度值逐渐降低;焊接接头静态拉伸失效位置均在母材,拉伸断口为韧性断口,DP600钢激光焊接接头不存在软化现象。     

High cycle fatigue behavior of DP980 steel and DP980 steel laser welded joints

For the study of the DP980 steel high cycle fatigue property, high fatigue tests of DP980 steel and DP980 steel laser welded joints were carried out with fatigue testing machine, the Basquin equation was concluded. Microstructures and fractures were analyzed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results show that DP980 steel laser welding joints have the weld concavity at the welding root and top, the quality of welded joints is medium. The fatigue limit of DP980 steel is 341MPa, the fatigue limit of DP980 steel laser welded joint is 148MPa, the fatigue limit decreases by 50% compared with the fatigue limit of the base metal. For DP980 steel, the crystal boundary of the ferrite/martensite is the main location of micro cracks initiation, the fatigue fracture of DP980 steel is the quasi cleavage fracture. For DP980 steel laser welding joints, the fatigue cracks initiation is located in the weld concavity, not in the heat affected zone, the fatigue fracture is cleavage fracture. DP980 steel and DP980 steel laser welding joints crack propagation is characterized by the obviously fatigue striations coupled with secondary cracks.     

DP980钢及DP980钢激光焊接接头的高周疲劳性能

摘要：为了研究DP980钢的高周疲劳性能,采用疲劳试验机对DP980钢和DP980钢激光焊接接头进行高周疲劳试验,得到Basquin方程,并利用光学金相显微镜和扫描电镜进行组织和断口分析。结果表明：DP980钢激光焊接接头的焊缝根部和顶部出现形状凹陷,焊接接头的质量为中等。DP980钢疲劳极限为341MPa,DP980钢激光焊接接头的疲劳极限为148MPa,激光焊接接头的疲劳极限较母材的疲劳极限降低约50%。对于DP980钢而言,铁素体/马氏体晶界是裂纹萌生的主要位置,疲劳断口为准解理断口。对于DP980钢激光焊接接头而言,疲劳裂纹源位于焊缝凹陷处,而非热影响区及母材,疲劳断口为解理断口。DP980钢和DP980钢激光焊接接头的疲劳裂纹扩展区均有明显的疲劳条带,并伴随有二次裂纹。     

Si-Mn系超高强度热成形淬火钢板的点焊性能

 采用不同的点焊工艺参数对研发的1700MPa级Si-Mn系热成形淬火钢板与低碳钢板DC04进行异种材料之间点焊,并对焊接接头的拉伸性能、显微硬度分布及微观组织特征等进行了分析。结果表明,焊接电流对点焊接头熔核直径和抗剪强度具有显著的影响,而焊接时间的影响相对较小。超高强度钢板侧的热影响区存在两个明显的软化区和硬化区,即在靠近母材处存在一个硬度明显低于母材的软化区,其组织为回火马氏体;在靠近熔核处存在一个硬度明显高于母材的硬化区,其组织为细小的马氏体。点焊接头熔核部位为柱状粗大马氏体组织,其硬度明显低于超高强度钢板母材且远高于低碳钢板母材。低碳钢板热影响区低的硬度和明显粗化的铁素体组织,使得点焊接头单向拉伸时均从低碳钢板的热影响区一侧破断。     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TWIP Steel Joints

As a new type of high manganese steel, the twinning induced plasticity （TWIP） steels have attracted a growing interest in the automotive industry due to their good performance. Thin plates of TWIP steel were welded by laser beam welding （LBW） and gas tungsten arc welding （GTAW）. The microstructure result shows that GTAW joint has obvious heat-affected zone （HAZ）, while the HAZ of LBW joint is almost invisible. The X-ray diffraction result shows that the phase compositions of both joints are austenitic and no phase transition occurs. Energy disper- sive spectrometry result shows that there is violent evaporation of Mn element in LBW joint, while the proportion of Mn element in GTAW joint is almost unchanged. Tensile tests and micro-hardness measurements were performed to take into account the mechanical properties of joints manufactured by the two different processes. The micro-hard- ness profiles of both joints present a typical saddle distribution, and the hardness of GTAW seam is lower than that of LBW seam. The failure positions of LBW joints are all located in base metal while the GTAW joints are all at the weld toe due to the softening of HAZ. By means of scanning electron microscopy, a typical ductile fracture is observed in LBW joint, while a brittle fracture with quasi-cleavage fracture characteristic is observed in GTAW joint.     

Fracture toughness behavior of ex-service 2-1/4Cr-1Mo steels from a 22-year-old fossil power plant

Elevated-temperature fracture toughness properties were developed on ex-service 2-l/4Cr-1Mo steel weldments. Fracture toughness was measured on both base and heat-affected zone (HAZ) metals. A composite specimen consisting of base, HAZ, and weld metals was used to develop fracture toughness properties in the HAZ area. It was observed that the J-R curve of the HAZ was significantly lower than that of the base metal. Increasing crack extension increased the difference between theJ-R curves of the base metal and the HAZ. Dimpled fracture was the prime fracture mode in the base metal specimen, and a mixed-mode (ductile and “granular”) fracture was found in the HAZ specimens. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) examination revealed significant intergranular carbide precipitation and agglomeration within the HAZ. The lower fracture toughness of the HAZ, as compared to the base metal, was attributed to the large accumulation of carbides in the grain boundaries of the HAZ, which weakened the grain boundaries and caused “granular” fracture.     

Friction-stir welding effects on microstructure and fatigue of aluminum alloy 7050-T7451

Aluminum alloy 7050 was friction-stir welded (FSW) in a T7451 temper to investigate the effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties. Results are discussed for the as-welded condition (as-FSW) and for a postweld heat-treated condition consisting of 121 °C for 24 hours (as-FSW + T6). Optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination of the weld-nugget region show that the FS welding process transforms the initial millimeter-sized pancake-shaped grains in the parent material to fine 1 to 5 μm dynamically recrystallized grains; also, the FS welding process redissolves the strengthening precipitates in the weld-nugget region. In the heat-affected zone (HAZ), the initial grain size is retained, while the size of the strengthening precipitates and of the precipitatefree zone (PFZ) is coarsened by a factor of 5. Tensile specimens tested transverse to the weld show that there is a 25 to 30 pct reduction in the strength level, a 60 pct reduction in the elongation in the as-FSW condition, and that the fracture path is in the HAZ. The postweld heat treatment of 121 °C for 24 hours did not result in an improvement either in the strength or the ductility of the welded material. Comparison of fatigue-crack growth rates (FCGRs) between the parent T7451 material and the as-FSW + T6 condition, at a stress ratio of R = 0.33, shows that the FCG resistance of the weldnugget region is decreased, while the FCG resistance of the HAZ is increased. Differences in FCGRs, however, are substantially reduced at a stress ratio of R = 0.70. Analysis of residual stresses, fatigue-crack closure, and fatigue fracture surfaces suggests that decrease in fatigue crack growth resistance in the weld-nugget region is due to an intergranular failure mechanism; in the HAZ region, residual stresses are more dominant than the microstructure improving the fatigue crack growth resistance.     

Fracture toughness analysis of heat-affected zones in high-strength low-alloy steel welds

This study is concerned with a correlation of fracture toughness with microstructural factors in heat-affected zones (HAZs) of a normalized high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel. In order to explain weld joint performance, tensile and plane strain fracture toughness tests were conducted for the simulated coarse-grained HAZ microstructures. The micromechanisms of fracture processes involved in void and microcrack formation are identified byin situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fracture observations and void initiation study. The fracture toughness results are also interpreted using simple fracture initiation models founded on the basic assumption that a crack initiates at a certain critical strain or stress developed over some microstructurally significant distance. The calculated K_Ic values are found to scale roughly with the spacing of the stringer-type martensite islands associated with voids, confirming that martensite islands play an important role in reducing the toughness of the coarse-grained HAZs. These findings suggest that the formation of martensite islands should be prevented by controlling the chemical compositions and by using the proper welding conditions to enhance fracture toughness of the welded joints of the HSLA steel. Formerly Research Assistant with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang Institute of Science and Technology     

Boron metallurgy of advanced ferritic power plant steels and welded joints

This paper describes the alloy design philosophy for the improvement of long-term creep strength of tempered martensitic 9Cr steel,including welded joints.The creep life t_r is inversely proportional to the minimum creep rateε_min times the increase in creep rate by strain dlnε/dεin the acceleration region as t_r = 1.5/[(ε_min) （dlnε/dε）].The parametersε_min and dlnε/dεare closely correlated with the time to minimum creep rate t_m and the strain to minimum creep rateε_m,which characterize the creep deformation behavior in the transient region.The boundary and sub-boundary hardening is shown to be the most important strengthening mechanism in creep of 9Cr steel and is enhanced by fine dispersions of precipitates along boundaries.The addition of boron reduces the coarsening rate of M₂₃C₆ carbides along boundaries near prior austenite grain boundaries during creep.The enhancement of boundary and sub-boundary hardening increases the t_m and decreases theε_min,which improves the creep life.The boundary and sub-boundary hardening is significantly reduced in fine-grained region of heataffected -zone（HAZ） of conventional steel P92 welded joints,promoting TypeⅣfracture.In NIMS 9Cr boron steel welded joints,the distribution of carbonitrides along boundaries are substantially the same between the HAZ and base metal,suppressing the TypeⅣfracture.     

Fracture mechanism and toughness of the welding heat-affected zone in structural steel under static and dynamic loading

Due to the influence of the welding thermal cycle, the toughness of structural steel generally degenerates. Recently, the intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone (IC CG HAZ) was found to demonstrate the worst toughness in welded joint, which was associated with its fracture mechanism. In this article, two IC CG HAZs of a structural steel were prepared by welding thermal-cycle simulation techniques. For the two IC CG HAZs, the static and dynamic fracture toughness were evaluated; the fracture mechanism was also studied. Under both static and dynamic loading, cracks in the IC CG HAZ were found to initiate at the intersection of bainitic ferrite α _B ^/0 packets with different orientations, followed by propagation in cleavage. In some crack propagation regions, adjacent cleavage facets are connected by shear, thus producing dimple zones. Though the brittle fracture initiation mechanism remains unchanged, the cleavage facet size, the proportion of the dimple zones between facets, and the distance from the cracking initiation site to the crack tip vary with loading speed and welding conditions. These changes were found to be related to the variations caused by strain rate and welding conditions in fracture toughness for the IC CG HAZs.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Laser-Welded and Diode-Laser-Welded AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

The microstructures, tensile properties, strain hardening, and fatigue strength of fiber-laser-welded (FLW) and diode-laser-welded (DLW) AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloys were studied. Columnar dendrites near the fusion zone (FZ) boundary and equiaxed dendrites at the center of FZ, with divorced eutectic β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ particles, were observed. The FLW joints had smaller dendrite cell sizes with a narrower FZ than the DLW joints. The heat-affected zone consisted of recrystallized grains. Although the DLW joints fractured at the center of FZ and exhibited lower yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and fatigue strength, the FLW joints failed at the fusion boundary and displayed only moderate reduction in the YS, UTS, and fatigue strength with a joint efficiency of ~91 pct. After welding, the strain rate sensitivity basically vanished, and the DLW joints exhibited higher strain-hardening capacity. Stage III hardening occurred after yielding in both base metal (BM) and welded samples. Dimple-like ductile fracture characteristics appeared in the BM, whereas some cleavage-like flat facets together with dimples and river marking were observed in the welded samples. Fatigue crack initiated from the specimen surface or near-surface defects, and crack propagation was characterized by the formation of fatigue striations along with secondary cracks.     

热输入对DP980激光焊组织和力学性能的影响

为了研究DP980钢的焊接性能,采用3种不同的激光焊接工艺进行焊接试验。结果表明,熔融区为板条马氏体,热影响区为马氏体、铁素体和回火马氏体,随着热输入增加,上下表面的熔宽逐渐增大,强塑积逐渐减小,热影响区的软化程度逐渐恶化。从熔融区到母材,显微硬度的变化趋势是先降低后升高。焊接接头静态拉伸失效位置均在亚临界热影响区,拉伸断口为韧性断口,随着热输入增加,杯状韧窝逐渐转变为较大的抛物线状韧窝,通过分析不同热输入条件下焊接接头的静态拉伸应变场云图,可知在塑性变形阶段,熔融区两侧呈双峰形貌,随着热输入的增加,软化区的面积逐渐增大,颈缩易出现在熔融区两侧的软化区部位。     

Creep Strength of Dissimilar Welded Joints Using High B-9Cr Steel for Advanced USC Boiler

The commercialization of a 973 K (700 °C) class pulverized coal power system, advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) pressure power generation, is the target of an ongoing research project initiated in Japan in 2008. In the A-USC boiler, Ni or Ni-Fe base alloys are used for high-temperature parts at 923 K to 973 K (650 °C to 700 °C), and advanced high-Cr ferritic steels are planned to be used at temperatures lower than 923 K (650 °C). In the dissimilar welds between Ni base alloys and high-Cr ferritic steels, Type IV failure in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) is a concern. Thus, the high B-9Cr steel developed at the National Institute for Materials Science, which has improved creep strength in weldments, is a candidate material for the Japanese A-USC boiler. In the present study, creep tests were conducted on the dissimilar welded joints between Ni base alloys and high B-9Cr steels. Microstructures and creep damage in the dissimilar welded joints were investigated. In the HAZ of the high B-9Cr steels, fine-grained microstructures were not formed and the grain size of the base metal was retained. Consequently, the creep rupture life of the dissimilar welded joints using high B-9Cr steel was 5 to 10 times longer than that of the conventional 9Cr steel welded joints at 923 K (650 °C).