Effects of microstructure on fracture toughness of a high-strength low-alloy steel

Fracture toughness and ductile-brittle transition behavior were measured for a copper-bearing HSLA steel. The value ofK _lc for cleavage failure was independent of heat treatment, whileJ _lc for ductile failure decreased monotonically with increasing strength level. With both failure modes, fracture appears to be controlled by cracking of sulfide inclusions. The decrease in ductile-failureJ _lc is caused by decreased work-hardening rates that suppress cleavage and facilitate void coalescence. Both higher austenitizing temperature and quenching rate after austenitization influence the ductile/brittle transition temperature, either through grain-size and precipitate refinement or through an increase in the resistance of the steel to shear failure. Formerly Graduate Student, The Ohio State University     

Analysis of fracture toughness in the transition-temperature region of an Mn-Mo-Ni low-alloy steel

This study is concerned with the analysis of fracture toughness in the transition region of an Mn-Mo-Ni low-alloy steel, in accordance with the ASTM E1921 standard test method. Elastic-plastic cleavage fracture toughness (K _Jc ) was determined by three-point bend tests, using precracked Charpy V-notch (PCVN) specimens, and relationships between K _Jc , the critical component of J (J _c ), critical distance (X _c ), stretch-zone width (SZW), local fracture stress, and plane-strain fracture toughness (K _Ic were discussed on the basis of the cleavage fracture behavior in the transition region. The master curve and the 95 pct confidence curves well explained the variation in the measured K _Jc , and the Weibull slope measured on the Weibull plots was consistent with the theoretical slope of 4. Fractographic observation indicated that X _c linearly increased with increasing J _c , and that the SZW had a good correlation with K _Jc , irrespective of the test temperature. In addition, the local fracture stress was independent of the test temperature, because the tempered bainitic steel used in this study showed a propagation-controlled cleavage fracture behavior.     

Mechanism of detrimental effects of carbon content on cleavage fracture toughness of low-alloy steel

The variation in fracture toughness of low-alloy base steels and weld steels with carbon contents of 0.08 and 0.21 wt pct was investigated using notched and precracked specimens tested at low temperatures. The attention is focused on the mechanism associated with detrimental effects on cleavage fracture toughness resulting from increasing carbon content. Analyses reveal that, in the case of constant ferrite grain sizes with increasing carbon content, the yield stress σ _y increases and the local fracture stress σ _f remains constant for notched specimens. For precracked specimens, the σ _y increases, whereas the σ _f decreases. In both cases, the ratio σ _f /σ _y decreases; this ratio is one of the principal factors inducing the deterioration in the cleavage fracture toughness of the higher carbon steels. Analyses also reveal that the critical strain for initiating a crack nucleus, which decreases with increasing carbon content and impurity elements, appears to be another principal factor that has a negative effect on the fracture toughness in both notched and precracked specimens. The results of the fracture toughness measured for weld metal with various grain sizes further support the predominant effect of grain size on the toughness of notched specimens.     

Effects of tensile prestrain on the notch toughness of low-alloy steel

Tensile prestrains of various levels were applied to blank steel specimens. Four-point bend tests of notched specimens at various temperatures revealed an appreciable drop in the notch toughness of the specimens, which experienced 3 pct tensile prestrain. Further prestrains of up to 20 pct had a negligible effect on the notch toughness despite additional increases in the yield strength. Microscopic analyses combined with finite element method (FEM) calculations revealed that the decrease in toughness resulted from a change of the critical event controlling the cleavage fracture. The increase in yield strength provided by prestraining allowed the normal tensile stress at the notch tip to exceed the local fracture stress σ _f for propagating a just-nucleated microcrack. As a result, for the coarsegrained steel with low σ _f tested presently, the critical event was changed from tensile stress-controlled propagation of a nucleated microcrack to plastic strain-controlled nucleation of the microcrack at the notch tip. A reduction of toughness was induced as a result of this. The increase in yield strength provided by decreasing the test temperature acted in the same way.     

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     

Effect of alloying elements on the microstructure and properties of a hot-rolled low-carbon low-alloy bainitic steel

A two-level full factorial statistical experiment consisting of eight alloys was conducted to determine the effect of 2 pct cobalt, 1 pct nickel and 1 pct chromium on the hot-rolled microstructure and properties of a bainitic steel containing 0.2 pct C, 2 pct Mn, 1 pct Si, 0.75 pct Mo and 0.003 pct B. The results indicate that chromium induced the formation of the acicular bainitic structure while cobalt favored massive ferrite formation and resulted in islands of martensite and/or austenite. Nickel, when added singly, did not appear to influence the microstructure but in combination with chromium, enhanced the formation of the lower bainitic structure. The mechanical properties were statistically analyzed and statistical equations were obtained to predict optimized compositions. These equations indicate that chromium increased the toughness of these steels more than nickel. However, it was shown that with similar bainitic structures, nickel enhanced the toughness more than chromium. The results illustrate the short-coming of a pure statistical approach to the design of alloys.     

Effect of alloying elements on the microstructure and properties of a hot-rolled low-carbon low-alloy bainitic steel

A two-level full factorial statistical experiment consisting of eight alloys was conducted to determine the effect of 2 pct cobalt, 1 pct nickel and 1 pct chromium on the hot-rolled microstructure and properties of a bainitic steel containing 0.2 pct C, 2 pct Mn, 1 pct Si, 0.75 pct Mo and 0.003 pct B. The results indicate that chromium induced the formation of the acicular bainitic structure while cobalt favored massive ferrite formation and resulted in islands of martensite and/or austenite. Nickel, when added singly, did not appear to influence the microstructure but in combination with chromium, enhanced the formation of the lower bainitic structure. The mechanical properties were statistically analyzed and statistical equations were obtained to predict optimized compositions. These equations indicate that chromium increased the toughness of these steels more than nickel. However, it was shown that with similar bainitic structures, nickel enhanced the toughness more than chromium. The results illustrate the short-coming of a pure statistical approach to the design of alloys.     

低合金特厚钢板轧制复合试验

为满足低合金钢板大单重、特厚规格的市场需求,依托轧制复合工艺开展采用复合连铸板坯生产特厚钢板的试验研究,通过对连铸板坯进行复合组坯及轧制获得特厚钢板。综合试验和分析结果表明,采用轧制复合工艺生产的特厚钢板结合界面复合良好,结合界面区域晶粒发生了充分的再结晶,实现了原子层级的冶金结合;z向(厚度方向)拉伸性能满足Z35要求,局部断面收缩率因结合界面微区存在的带状分布氧化物而偏低。     

低合金特厚钢板轧制复合试验

为满足低合金钢板大单重、特厚规格的市场需求,依托轧制复合工艺开展采用复合连铸板坯生产特厚钢板的试验研究,通过对连铸板坯进行复合组坯及轧制获得特厚钢板。综合试验和分析结果表明,采用轧制复合工艺生产的特厚钢板结合界面复合良好,结合界面区域晶粒发生了充分的再结晶,实现了原子层级的冶金结合;z向(厚度方向)拉伸性能满足 Z35 要求,局部断面收缩率因结合界面微区存在的带状分布氧化物而偏低。     

Effect of decreased hot-rolling reduction treatment on fracture toughness of low-alloy structural steels

Commercial low-alloy structural steels, 0.45 pct C (AISI 1045 grade), 0.40 pct C-Cr-Mo (AISI 4140 grade), and 0.40 pct C-Ni-Cr-Mo (AISI 4340 grade), have been studied to determine the effect of the decreased hot-rolling reduction treatment (DHRRT) from 98 to 80 pct on fracture toughness of quenched and highly tempered low-alloy structural steels. The significant conclusions are as follows: (1) the sulfide inclusions were modified through the DHRRT from a stringer (mean aspect ratio: 16.5 to 17.6) to an ellipse (mean aspect ratio: 3.8 to 4.5), independent of the steels studied; (2) the DHRRT significantly improvedJ _Ic in the long-transverse and shorttransverse orientations, independent of the steels studied; and (3) the shelf energy in the Charpy V-notch impact test is also greatly improved by the DHRRT, independent of testing orientation and steels studied; however, (4) the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature was only slightly affected by the DHRRT. The beneficial effect on theJ _Ic is briefly discussed in terms of a crack extension model involving the formation of voids at the inclusion sites and their growth and eventual linking up through the rupture of the intervening ligaments by local shear.     

V-N微合金化热轧钢板组织与性能的研究

采用FeV与VN两种钒微合金化方式,对两种实验钢板进行显微组织分析,主要讨论了含钒微合金钢的强韧性能,研究结果表明V-N微合金钢具有良好的性能,优越于V钢.     

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.     

304不锈钢热轧板中非金属夹杂物的研究

利用光学显微镜对304不锈钢热轧板中的夹杂物进行统计分析,并用扫描电镜能谱分析的方法对其形貌和成分进行了研究。结果表明:304不锈钢热轧板中夹杂物主要为CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3和CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-TiO2硅酸盐类夹杂,粒度小于5μm的显微夹杂物中同时存在MgO-Al2O3尖晶石夹杂和Al2O3夹杂物;中部试样夹杂物的面积分数为0.032%,边部试样夹杂物的面积分数为0.025%。     

Anisotropy of ductile fracture in hot-rolled steel plates-an application of the upset test

Upset testing of cylindrical specimens generates circumferential tensile stresses at the barreled surfaces. These stresses can be utilized in the same manner as the tensile stresses in the tension test to evaluate the ductility of materials. Using the upset test method, the anisotropy of ductile fracture in AISI 1045 hot-rolled steel plates was determined. Ductility parallel to the plane of inclusions is found to be ≈ 50 pet higher than that perpendicular to the inclusions. It is shown that the local surface strains at fracture in upset testing correlate well with the true zero-gage-length fracture strain in tension testing, provided the tensile stresses in the respective tests are in the same direction relative to the inclusion orientation. Thus, compression tests parallel to the inclusion direction, which generate tensile stresses perpendicular to the inclusions, can be utilized to measure ductility transverse to the fiber of wrought materials. This is particularly useful in determining the short transverse or through-thickness ductility in hot-rolled or forged materials having thin sections.