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Welded plate girders are used in heavy steel construction, industrial buildings and bride construction. Residual stresses are present in all plate structures. They are mainly caused by welding. In addition, they influence the load bearing capacity of these welded components. However, Eurocode (EC) does not provide any specific residual stress patterns for consideration of residual stress impact on load capacity. Hence, the decision for a particular problem has to be made by the designer. Many codes, including EC 3, permit the use of non-linear finite element analysis (FEA) for the design of structures. For that purpose, the contribution gives an overview on recent results derived from welded I-girders made from mild steel S355 and high-strength steel S690QL. Weld residual stresses have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) on small-scale specimen. In addition, residual stresses of welded component-like I-girders have been studied using the sectioning technique. The results confirmed the beneficial effect of certain edge preparation of the plates by flame cutting prior to welding. High-strength steels like the S690 can contribute to both: increased load capacity and decreased influence of weld residual stresses.
This article addresses the imperfections in high-strength steel I-shape sections caused by weld assembly. Load influencing imperfections are assumed mainly as deviations from the ideal shape (e.g. bending distortion) and longitudinal residual stresses. The quality of a numerically aided design of components exposed to either compression and/or bending is significantly dependent on those parameters. In this scope, major gaps in knowledge are still present. Eurocode (EC) is providing robust simplified models that date back to the 1960's and 70's. As a result, the ultimate limit state (ULS) is approached on a quite conservative basis. The investigations are presented in this article are aimed to give further guidance on these values in component-like specimens in the context of Eurocode.
In order to satisfy the growing requirements towards lightweight design and resource efficiency in modern steel constructions, e.g. mobile cranes and bridges, high-strength steels with typical yield strength ≥ 690 MPa are coming into use to an increasing extent. However, these steels require special treatment in welding. The susceptibility for degradation of the mechanical properties in presence of hydrogen increases significantly with increasing yield strength. In case of missing knowledge about how and which amount of hydrogen is uptaken during welding, hydrogen assisted cracking can be a negative consequence. Moreover, modern weld technology like the modified spray arc process enables welding of narrower weld seams. In this context, a reduced number of weld beads, volume and total heat input are technical and economic benefits. This work presents the influence of welding parameters on the diffusible hydrogen content in both (1) single-pass and (2) multi-layer welds. Different hydrogen concentrations were detected by varied contact tube distance, wire feed speed, arc length as well as varied arc type (transitional arc and modified spray arc). The results showed, that all welding parameters had significant influence on the diffusible hydrogen concentration in the single-pass welds. By increasing the number of weld beads in case of multi-layer welding, the hydrogen concentration have been substantially reduced. Whereby, differences in hydrogen concentrations between both arc types are present.
High-strength low-alloyed (HSLA) steels with yield strength ≥ 690 MPa are gaining popularity in civil engineering and construction of heavy vehicles. With increasing yield strength, the susceptibility for degradation of the mechanical properties in presence of diffusible hydrogen, i.e. hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC) generally increases. HAC is a result of the critical interaction of local microstructure, mechanical load and hydrogen concentration. In existing standards for welding of HSLA steels, recommendations (preheating, interpass temperature and hydrogen removal heat treatment) are given to limit the amount of introduced hydrogen during welding. The recommendations are based on investigations with conventional arc welding processes. In the past decade, modern weld technologies were developed to enable welding of narrower weld seams with V-grooves of 30°, e.g. the modified spray arc process. In that connection, a reduced number of weld runs and weld volume are important technical and, hence, economic benefits. In the present study, the hydrogen distribution in S960QL multi-layer welds with thickness of 20 mm was analyzed depending on heat control. The influence of different weld seam opening angles (grooves), heat input, interpass temperature and hydrogen removal procedures was investigated. The results show that weldments with narrow groove contained increased diffusible hydrogen amount. Reasons had been longer diffusion path and higher wire feeding rate compared to conventional welds with wider 60° Vgroove. Hydrogen concentration has been reduced by decreasing both the heat input and interpass temperature. Hydrogen free weldments were achieved via hydrogen removal heat treating at 250 °C for 5 h subsequently after welding. Regarding the strength of the investigated steel, it is recommended to conduct a heat treatment after welding. For the first time, hydrogen concentration gradients were experimentally determined across the weld seam thickness in HSLA multi-layer welds.
In the present study, the susceptibility to HAC of the HSLA steel S960QL with same type of filler material was investigated. For that purpose, both Conv. A and Mod. SA were used with same weld heat input at different deposition rates. For assessment of the HAC susceptibility, the externally loaded Implant-test [ ] was used. Both conducted test series with Conv. A and Mod. SA showed similar crack critical stress of about 280 MPa. Below this value, no delayed fracture appeared. The welds with Mod. SA showed higher hydrogen concentrations. The fracture occurred in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) or in the weld metal (WM). But in all specimens, cracks initiated at the notch root of the spiral notch of the implants within the coarse-grained HAZ. However, the test series with Mod. SA showed a significant extension of the time-to-failure of several hours compared to tests carried out with Conv. A, see Fig. 1a. The reason is the deeper weld penetration in case of Mod. SA (Fig. 1b and Fig. 1c), which causes longer diffusion path for hydrogen. The fracture topography of the ruptured implant specimens with Conv. A was typical ductile in specimen center and quasi-cleavage like at the edge of the specimens. When using Mod. SA, the topography changed to primarily quasi-cleavage fracture topography with shares of intergranular fracture and secondary crack appearance.
The need for steels with highest mechanical properties is a result of the increasing demands for energy and resource efficiency. In this context, high-strength low-alloyed (HSLA) structural steels are used in machine, steel and crane construction with yield strength up to 960 MPa. HSLA steels enable lightweight construction by thinner necessary plate thickness. However, welding of HSLA steels requires profound knowledge of three factors in terms of avoidance of hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC): the interaction of (1) microstructure, (2) local stress/strain and (3) local hydrogen concentration. In addition to the three main factors, the used weld-arc process is also important for the performance of the welded joint, especially when using modern arc variants. In the past, the conventional transitional arc process (Conv. A) was mainly used for welding of HSLA grades. In the past decade, the so-called modified spray arc process (Mod. SA) was increasingly used for welding production. This modified arc enables reduced seam opening angles with increased deposition rates compared to the conventional process. Economic benefits of using this arc type are: a reduced number of necessary weld beads and a lower weld seam volume, which result in decreased total welding time and costs. Nonetheless, investigations on a high-strength S960QL showed significantly higher hydrogen concentrations in the weld metal at a reduced seam opening angle with Mod. SA. This indicates an increased risk for the susceptibility of the welded component to HAC. Hence, existing recommendations on HAC-avoidance cannot be transferred directly to the Mod. SA-process.
In the present study, the susceptibility to HAC of the HSLA steel S960QL with same type of filler material was investigated. For that purpose, both Conv. A and Mod. SA were used with same weld heat input at different deposition rates. For assessment of the HAC susceptibility, the externally loaded Implant-test was used. Both conducted test series with Conv. A and Mod. SA showed similar crack critical stress of about 280 MPa. Below this value, no delayed fracture appeared. The welds with Mod. SA showed higher hydrogen concentrations. The fracture occurred in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) or in the weld metal (WM). But in all specimens, cracks initiated at the notch root of the spiral notch of the implants within the coarse-grained HAZ. However, the test series with Mod. SA showed a significant extension of the time-to-failure of several hours compared to tests carried out with Conv. A. The reason is the deeper weld penetration in case of Mod. SA, which causes longer diffusion path for hydrogen. The fracture topography of the ruptured implant specimens with Conv. A was typical ductile in specimen center and quasi-cleavage like at the edge of the specimens. When using Mod. SA, the topography changed to primarily quasi-cleavage fracture topography with shares of intergranular fracture and secondary crack appearance.
Modified TEKKEN test for studying hydrogen-assisted cracking in high-strength structural steels
(2020)
In the present work, the complex interactions of the influences of material, welding process and seam configuration and the restraint of shrinkage on the residual stresses and the influence of diffusible hydrogen on hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC) in the high-strength steel S960QL were investigated. For this purpose, self-restraint specimens were selected using the TEKKEN test with correspondingly adapted seam opening angles and a restraint intensity of approx. RFy = 17 kN/(mm·mm). The variation of the seam opening angle of the test seams was between 30° and 60°. Due to the comparatively high restraint of shrinkage in the transverse direction of the weld, high tensile residual stresses in the weld metal were expected for both weld seam configurations. In addition, a dehydrogenation heat treatment (DHT) for HAC prevention under restraint of shrinkage was verified. In order to keep distortion and heat input as low as possible, the seam geometries were manufactured from the solid material by means of electric discharge machining (EDM). Both, solid wire and metal cored wire were used. In addition, hydrogen was added to the shielding gas in solid wire welding to increase diffusible hydrogen concentration. Moreover, welding residual stresses at the weld seam surface, which were measured by using mobile X-ray diffraction, were taken into account to evaluate the HAC behavior. DHT was carried out at 250 °C for 4 h in an external furnace.
High-strength fine-grained structural steels have great potential for weight-optimized, efficient structures in many modern steel applications. Further advances in efficiency can be achieved through additive manufacturing and bionic design. Commercial high-strength filler materials for wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) are already provided by the consumable producers. Today, application would be strictly limited due to absence of quantitative findings or any guidelines for the industry regarding welding-related stresses and component safety during manufacturing and service. Hence, process- and material-related influences and design-related restraint conditions associated with formation of residual stresses and cold cracking risk are investigated. The aim is the accessibility of special WAAM self-restraining cold cracking tests and easy applicable processing recommendations, enabling an economical, fit-for-purpose and crack-safe WAAM of high-strength steels. This first study focuses on determination of interactions between WAAM process parameters, resulting layer geometry, microstructure and residual stresses, analyzed via X-ray diffraction. Defined reference specimens are automated welded using a special WAAM solid wire (yield strength >820 MPa). Geometric properties can be specifically adjusted by wire feed and welding speed, but cannot be varied arbitrarily, since a high heat input causes local overheating, inadmissible changes of microstructure and mechanical properties, defects and comparable high tensile residual stresses.
Large scale hydrogen assisted cracking test for thick walled SAW joints for offshore applications
(2023)
Offshore wind turbines continuously increase in size and weight and demand adequate offshore foundations concepts like monopiles, tripods or jackets. These components are typically submerged arc welded (SAW) high-strength thick steel plates like the S420ML. During welding, the occurrence of delayed hydrogen assisted cracking (HAC) must be anticipated. HAC is a critical combination of the local hydrogen concentration within a susceptible microstructure under certain mechanical load, i.e., the occurring (welding) residual stresses. The welding sequence of the thick-walled plates complicate the residual stress distribution due to the necessary repeated thermal cycling, i.e., welding seam / layer deposition to fill the joint. For that purpose, SAW with two-wire-technique was used to weld a specially designed and prototype-like mock-up of a real component with a thickness of 50 mm, filled more than 20 passes and a seam length of 1,000 mm. Additional welded stiffeners simulated the effect of a high restraint, to stimulate critical HAC conditions. The necessity of a minimum waiting time (MWT) before the NDT can be conducted (to exclude HAC) was critically verified by the application of ultrasonic testing of the welded joint at different time-steps of the NDT of 48 h after welding. The residual stresses were determined by a robot XRD goniometer. Tensile residual stresses up to the yield limit are found both in the weld metal and in the heat-affected zone. Numerical modelling allowed the qualitative estimation of the hydrogen diffusion in the weld. A remarkable HAC occurrence was not identified and proves both, a certain resistance of the weld joint to HAC and the (questionable) duration of the MWT.
This presentation summarizes the latest results on the microalloying influence on the preciptitation behavior on the mechanical properties of welded high-strength steel with a design yield strength of 690 MPa and above. For that reason, Charpy tests were performed for the pure weld metal and different heat-affected zones. Thermodynamic phase field modeling showed the usefulness of calculations in Thermocalc to predict the preciptiation behavior and (finally) to conclude the mechanistic behavior of the welded joint.