Effect of Notch Location on Fatigue Life Prediction of Strength Mismatched HSLA Steel Weldments

Welding of high strength low alloy steels (HSLA) involves usage of low, even and high strength filler materials (electrodes) than the parent material depending on the application of the welded structures and the availability of the filler material. In the present investigation, the fatigue crack growth behaviour of weld metal (WM) and heat affected zone (HAZ) regions of under matched (UM), equal matched (EM) and over matched (OM) joints has been studied. The base material used in this investigation is HSLA-80 steel of weldable grade. Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process has been used to fabricate the butt joints. Centre cracked tension (CCT) specimen has been used to evaluate the fatigue crack growth behaviour of the welded joints. Fatigue crack growth experiments have been conducted using servo hydraulic controlled fatigue testing machine at constant amplitude loading (R=0). A method has been proposed to predict the fatigue life of HSLA steel welds using fracture mechanics approach by incorporatin     

Influences of MMR,PWHT and notch location on fatigue life of HSLA steel welds

Welding of High Strength Low Alloy Steels (HSLA) involves usage of lower, more even and higher strength filler materials (electrodes) than the parent material depending on the application of the welded structures and the availability of the filler material. In this investigation an attempt has been made to study the influences of mis-match ratio (MMR), Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) and notch location on fatigue life of HSLA steel welds. A Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process has been used to fabricate the butt joints. A Centre Cracked Tension (CCT) specimen has been used to evaluate the fatigue life of welded joints. Fatigue experiments have been conducted using a servo hydraulic controlled fatigue testing machine at constant amplitude loading (R=0). The Design of Experiments (full factorial design) concept has been used to optimise the number of experimental conditions. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method has been used to identify the significance of main and interaction effects. A mathematical model has been developed to predict the fatigue life of HSLA steel welds using Regression analysis.     

Effect of welding processes on fatigue crack growth behaviour of AISI 409M ferritic stainless steel joints fabricated using duplex stainless steel fillers

The present investigation aims to study the effect of welding processes such as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) on fatigue crack growth behaviour of the ferritic stainless steel (FSS) conforming to AISI 409M grade. Rolled plates of 4 mm thickness were used as the base material and AISI 2209 grade duplex stainless steel (DSS) was used as filler metal, for preparing single pass butt welded joints. Centre cracked tensile (CCT) specimens were used to evaluate the fatigue crack growth behaviour. From this investigation, it is found that the GTAW joints showed superior fatigue crack growth resistance compared with SMAW and GMAW joints. The reasons for the superior performance were discussed in detail.     

A parametric fracture mechanics study of welded joints with toe cracks and lack of penetration

The existing design rules give quite general guidelines to the fatigue assessment of different types of welded joints. The goal of this investigation was to give designers some tools, which would allow more precise assessment of the effect of dimensional variations on the fatigue strength. Therefore the fatigue behaviour of 12 common types of welded joints has been studied parametrically. Two-dimensional (2D) finite element models of the joint were made and evaluated using plane strain linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) calculations. The as-welded condition was assumed with the result that no crack initiation period was considered and stress ranges were fully effective. A maximum tangential stress criterion with the Paris’ crack growth law was used to predict the growth rate and direction of root and toe cracks under mixed mode K_I-K_II conditions. The effects of weld size and joint dimension ratios on the fatigue strength were systematically studied. In addition to tensile loading, bending and combined tension/bending moment loading in both directions are examined for positive and negative mean stress.     

Assessment of In-Service Degradation of Mechanical Properties of NPP Reactor and Piping Materials

An experimental investigation has been carried out to clarify the influence of operating factors on static and cyclic strength of NPP reactor vessels and piping. The authors present the results of analysis of crack growth resistance characteristics of the base material and welded joints in WWER-1000 reactors (steel 15Kh2NMFA) in fatigue failure. The mechanisms of thermal aging of steels of NPP piping in long-term operation (up to 10,000 hours) have been studied.     

Modelling of ductile fracture initiation in strength mismatched welded joint

In this paper, the effect of strength mismatch and width of the welded joints on the stress–strain distribution in the crack tip region has been discussed. The single-edge notched bend (SENB) specimens (precrack length a₀/W = 0.32) were experimentally and numerically analysed. The model of local approach to fracture, proposed by Gurson, Tvergaard and Needleman, was used. High-strength low-alloyed (HSLA) steel was used as a base metal in quenched and tempered condition. The flux-cored arc-welding process in shielding gas was used. Two different fillers were selected to make over- and undermatched weld metal. The experimental analysis of fracture behaviour of the over- and undermatched welded joints was followed by numerical computations of void volume fraction in front of the crack tip. The critical void volume fraction, f_c, used in prediction of the crack growth initiation on the SENB specimen had been previously determined on a round smooth specimen. Three widths of weld metal were considered: 6, 12 and 18 mm. A comparison of the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) values corresponding to crack initiation in the SENB specimens is given, as determined both experimentally and using the GTN model.     

Rißfortschritt in ultrafesten Stählen und deren Schweißverbindungen bei dynamischer Beanspruchung

Crack propagation in ultra-high-strength steels and their welded joints under dynamic loading . Reported are results of investigation into the propagation of cracks in the base metal and weld metal of an ultra-high-strength steel. The material used in the investigations was a Ni? Co? Mo? alloy maraging steel with a yield point of 170 kp/mm². The steel was arc welded and TIG welded. The joints exhibited a drop of static strength in the range of 5 to 8 percent related to the base metal. Under zero-to-tension stress cycles the fatigue strength corresponded that of other high-strength steels, under tension-compression stress cycles the steel exhibited a higher fatigue strength. It was possible to show striations with the aid of scanning microscopy. Comparing the track propagation calculated in the microscopic range with the results obtained from the crack growth curves produced approximate agreement.     

The use of the JV parameter in welded joints: Stress analysis and fatigue assessment

This paper investigates the use of the J_V parameter, a path-independent integral, for the evaluation of the elastic local stress parameters in welded details and for the estimation of their fatigue life.First, the stress intensity factors (SIF) of an embedded crack lying along the bisector of a sharp V-notch is calculated by means of the J_V without modelling the crack and by keeping the same external load and boundary conditions of the cracked model. Furthermore, the notch stress intensity factors (NSIFs) of the welds can be calculated after a post processing procedure of FE analysis with the advantage of using coarse meshes.Second, a correlation between the fatigue life of welded details and the J_V parameter is shown. In fact, careful analysis of the fracture surface of fillet welds taken from literature and of new fatigued joints indicates that the first stage of fatigue crack propagation follows the bisector line of the local V-notch as only mode I would be present. Therefore, since the J_V evaluated on a suitable integration path represents the SIF of an embedded crack lying along the bisector, the J_V is used for the fatigue life assessment of welded details. The critical characteristic length of a suitable integration path for welded joints made of steel and aluminium alloys has been calculated. These critical characteristic lengths were used for the evaluation of two fatigue general scatter bands, mainly based on fatigue data of non-load-carrying cruciform joints characterised by a V-notch angle of 135°. Further, fatigue life data of steel and aluminium alloy welded connections have also been investigated when both mode I and mode II loadings are singular.     

AN ACCELERATED TEST METHOD FOR DETERMINING NEAR-THRESHOLD STRESS INTENSITY VALUES IN HSLA STEELS

Abstract— A new method for accelerating the collection of near-threshold corrosion fatigue crack propagation data, using local hydrogen embrittlement in the crack tip region, has been investigated for ASTM A710 HSLA steel. Fatigue tests were conducted at 10 and 0.2 Hz (stress ratio, R = 0.1) on "constant K " contoured double cantilever beam (CDCB) specimens, to establish near-threshold crack growth rates in a locally hydrogen charged region at the crack tip. Hydrogen charging was then discontinued and crack growth rates were monitored in the uncharged material. Near-threshold fatigue crack growth rates were found to be 100 times faster in the locally hydrogen charged specimens than in the uncharged material. Fatigue thresholds, Δ K _th, were defined in less than one fifth the time required for load shedding tests in air at 0.2 Hz. Although demonstrated for HSLA steels, the technique is applicable to any material which can be embrittled by hydrogen.     

Fatigue and creep fatigue crack growth behaviour of alloy 800 at 550°C

Fatigue and creep fatigue crack growth behaviour of alloy 800 at 550°C have been studied to analyse defect assessment in a steam generator. Different grades of alloy 800 have been investigated to reproduce the in service conditions. Fatigue crack growth (FCG) tests were conducted on CT20 and tubular specimens, then on welded tubes. Furthermore the influence of hold times on fatigue crack growth behaviour was studied.

The results obtained on material simulating the weld heat affected zone are in agreement with the tests conducted on welded tubes. Fatigue crack growth characteristics of aged and cold-worked aged material seem to be slightly improved in comparison with base material. Finally a hold time of one minute increases strongly the FCG threshold value determined in pure fatigue but has a negligible influence on crack growth rates.     

Fatigue crack growth resistance of gas tungsten arc,electron beam and friction stir welded joints of AA2219 aluminium alloy

AA2219 aluminium alloy square butt joints without filler metal addition were fabricated using gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), electron beam welding (EBW) and friction stir welding (FSW) processes. The effect of three welding processes on fatigue crack growth behaviour is reported in this paper. Transverse tensile properties of the welded joints were evaluated. Microstructure analysis was also carried out using optical and electron microscopes. It was found that the FSW joints are exhibiting superior fatigue crack growth resistance compared to EBW and GTAW joints. This was mainly due to the formation of very fine, dynamically recrystallised grains and uniform distribution of fine precipitates in the weld region.     

Establishing criteria for root and toe cracking of load carrying cruciform joints of pressure vessel grade steel

In this investigation an attempt has been made to establish a criterion to forecast the possible crack initiation region (toe or root) in double fillet welded load carrying cruciform joints and also to know the probable failure mode. Cruciform joints were fabricated from pressure vessel grade (ASTM 517 ‘F’ grade) steel using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) processes. Fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out in a mechanical resonance vertical pulsator (SCHENCK 200 kN capacity) with a frequency of 30 Hz under constant amplitude loading (R=0). It was found that the fatigue crack initiation lives (root crack or toe crack) were relatively lower in the joints fabricated by FCAW process than the joints fabricated by SMAW process.     

A comprehensive investigation on the effects of laser and shot peening on fatigue crack growth in friction stir welded AA 2195 joints

The effects of various surface treatment techniques on the fatigue crack growth performance of friction stir welded 2195 aluminum alloy were investigated. The objective was to reduce fatigue crack growth rates and enhance the fatigue life of welded joints. The crack growth rates were assessed and characterized for different peening conditions at a stress ratio (R) of 0.1, and 0.7. The surface and through-thickness residual stress distribution were also investigated and presented for the various regions in the weld. Tensile residual stresses introduced during the welding process were found to become significantly compressive, particularly after laser peening. The effect of the compressive stresses was deemed responsible for increasing the resistance to fatigue crack growth of the welds. The results indicate a significant reduction in fatigue crack growth rates using laser peening compared to shot peening and native welded specimens. This reduced fatigue crack growth rate was comparable to the base unwelded material.     

MICROSTRUCTURE AND FATIGUE PROPERTIES OF A WELDED DUPLEX STAINLESS STEEL

Abstract— In response to the increasing structural applications in duplex steels for welded structures, fatigue behaviour of a SAF 2304 grade duplex stainless steel was investigated, considering both the base metal and GTAW welded joints. Fatigue curves and fatigue limits under rotary bending fatigue were obtained. The study focused attention on the microstructural features of fatigue crack propagation of the two series of experiments, thereby permitting an evaluation of the tortuous crack path of welded joints and the mechanisms related to threshold microstructural barriers.     

Effect of welding processes on toe cracking behaviour of pressure vessel grade steel

The effect of welding processes on fatigue crack growth behaviour of load carrying cruciform joints has been analysed. Cruciform joints were fabricated from pressure vessel grade (ASTM 517 ‘F’ grade) steel using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) processes. Fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out in a mechanical resonance vertical pulsator (SCHENCK 200 kN capacity) with a frequency of 30 Hz under constant amplitude loading (R=0). It was found that the toe crack growth rates were relatively lower in the joints fabricated by SMAW process than the joints fabricated by FCAW process. The heat affected zone (HAZ) region of SMAW joints contains a low carbon martensitic structure and exhibited better fatigue resistance compared to the bainitic HAZ microstructure of FCAW joints. Relatively higher heat input involved in FCAW process resulted in the above variation in HAZ microstructure and led to inferior fatigue performance of FCAW joints compared to SMAW joints.     

Fatigue behaviour of friction stir welded AA2024‐T3 alloy: longitudinal and transverse crack growth

The fatigue crack growth properties of friction stir welded joints of 2024‐T3 aluminium alloy have been studied under constant load amplitude (increasing‐ΔK), with special emphasis on the residual stress (inverse weight function) effects on longitudinal and transverse crack growth rate predictions (Glinka's method). In general, welded joints were more resistant to longitudinally growing fatigue cracks than the parent material at threshold ΔK values, when beneficial thermal residual stresses decelerated crack growth rate, while the opposite behaviour was observed next to K_C instability, basically due to monotonic fracture modes intercepting fatigue crack growth in weld microstructures. As a result, fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) predictions were conservative at lower propagation rates and non‐conservative for faster cracks. Regarding transverse cracks, intense compressive residual stresses rendered welded plates more fatigue resistant than neat parent plate. However, once the crack tip entered the more brittle weld region substantial acceleration of FCGR occurred due to operative monotonic tensile modes of fracture, leading to non‐conservative crack growth rate predictions next to K_C instability. At threshold ΔK values non‐conservative predictions values resulted from residual stress relaxation. Improvements on predicted FCGR values were strongly dependent on how the progressive plastic relaxation of the residual stress field was considered.     

Effects of gap filler and brazing temperature on fracture and fatigue of wide-gap brazed joints

The influence of gap filler content on the fracture, fatigue crack initiation and propagation of AISI 316 stainless steel wide-gap brazed with nickel-based filler metal has been investigated. The brazed joints were found to consist of eutectic, intermetallic compound and solid solution. The volume of solid solution was observed to depend on the gap filler content and brazing temperature. Tensile tests with extra small strain gauge bonded at the centre of the joints showed that the strength and elongation of the brazed joints increased with brazing temperature, and the addition of gap filler was able to improve the load-carrying capacity of the brazed joints only when the brazing temperature was high enough. Fatigue crack initiation and growth under displacement amplitude control were also carried out. Crack closure in the brazed joints was determined by means of back face strain on the compact tension specimen used. The introduction of gap filler was able to increase the fatigue and fracture resistance of the brazed joints when a suitable brazing temperature was used. Crack deflection, branching and uncracked ligament bridging behind the crack tip were observable along the crack paths. Experimental results showed that gap filler was able to enhance the crack closure caused by roughness and ligament bridging.     

Fatigue crack propagation behavior in AISI 304 steel welded joints for cold‐stretched liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank at cryogenic temperatures

AISI304 steel welded joints are used in cold‐stretched liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks used for storing and transporting of liquefied gases. Compared with a conventional liquefied natural gas storage tank, a cold‐stretched liquefied natural gas storage tank has many advantages such as reduced thickness, light weight, low cost and low energy consumption. However, liquefied natural gas storage tanks can be subjected to alternative loads at cryogenic temperatures; thus, it is important to investigate the fatigue crack propagation behavior in AISI 304 steel welded joints at cryogenic temperatures. Specimens were machined from a cold‐stretched liquefied natural gas storage tank with a welding structure. The crack length was determined using compliance method and confirmed by examination with traveling microscope. Fatigue crack propagation rates were evaluated at various stress ratios and temperatures. The fatigue crack growth rate of all specimens a little appears the effect of stress ratio, but it has a great influence at a cryogenic temperature. The fatigue crack growth rate of longitudinal welded joint is the fastest at room and cryogenic temperature. Fracture mechanism in the specimen is examined using a scanning electron microscope.     

Fatigue behavior prediction of welded joints by using an integrated fracture mechanics approach

Current fracture mechanics methods for fatigue assessment of welded joints are based on long crack behavior. The present work introduces a method to predict the fatigue strength of welded joints by means of an integrated fracture mechanics approach (IFMA) that takes into account the fatigue behavior of short cracks. This methodology estimates the fatigue crack propagation rate as a function of the difference between the applied driving force and the material threshold for crack propagation, function of crack length. Firstly, the proposed fracture mechanic method is introduced and compared with the traditional fracture mechanic approach, used mainly for fitness for purpose assessment of welded joints with cracks or other crack-like defects. Then, the method is used for several theoretical and parametric applications to show its ability to predict the influence of different mechanical, geometrical and microstructural parameters in the definition of the fatigue resistance of welded joints. The influence of plate thickness, initial crack length and reinforcement angle on fatigue strength of butt-welded joints has been analysed and results show good agreement with experimental trends. Finally, the method is applied to predict and analyze the fatigue behavior of butt welded and non-load-carrying transverse fillet welded joints, and estimated and experimental results are analysed and compared.     

Fatigue behaviour of Al2024-T3 friction stir welded lap joints

The aim of this work is the characterization of the fatigue behaviour of AA2024-T3 friction stir welded overlap joints produced at German Aerospace Center (DLR) of Cologne (D). In these joints, two crack-like unwelded zones are present at overlap ends. The stress intensity factor at the crack tip and the fatigue crack path have been studied using the FE code Franc2d and the lifetime has been estimated by integrating the material propagation law with the software AFgrow, in which the stress intensity factor calculated with Franc2d was introduced. The numerical results predict lifetimes shorter than the experiments. This fact is attributed to an initial propagation in shear mode for a short distance, which was indeed observed with an optical microscope and it is predicted by mixed mode “failure mechanism map”.