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High-strength steels are increasingly applied in modern steel constructions to meet today’s lightweight requirements. Welding of these steels demands a profound knowledge of the interactions between the welding process, cooling conditions, heat input, and the resulting metallurgical occurrences in the weld and its vicinity. Additionally, welding stresses may be detrimental for the safety and performance of high-strength steel component welds during fabrication and service, especially due to the high yield ratio. For a development of strategies to adjust welding heat control, all these effects should be considered, to reach a complete exploitation of the high-strength steel potential. In recent researches at BAM, multilayer GMAW experiments were performed with high-strength steels, in which cooling conditions and resulting microstructure were analyzed for varied heat control parameters. The application of a unique 3d-operating testing facility and X-ray diffraction measurements allowed the analysis of local stresses in the weld while welding and cooling under component relevant shrinkage restraints. As a result, correlations between material behavior, welding, and cooling condition and the arising multi-axial stresses and forces were found. Based on this study, statements for the development of adapted heat control concepts were derived, which are presented by means of specific analysis examples.
WAAM process influences on local microstructure and residual stresses in high-strength steels
(2021)
High-strength fine-grain structural steels have great potential for weight optimization of many modern engineering structures. Efficient manufacturing can be achieved here above all by Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). First commercial high-strength welding consumables for WAAM are already available. Due to a lack of knowledge and guidelines for the industry regarding welding residual stresses and component safety in manufacturing and operation, their application is still severely limited. Residual stresses play a crucial role here, as the special microstructure of high-strength steels is sensitive to cold cracking.
For this reason, process- and material-related influences, as well as the design effects on residual stress formation, are being investigated in a project funded by the AiF (FOSTA P1380/IGF 21162 BG). This study focuses on determining the interactions between heat control during WAAM process, resulting hardness, microstructure, and residual stresses, analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Welding experiments using geometrically similar AM specimens show that, with regard to the heat input, the energy per unit length in particular leads to significantly affected cooling times and microstructures and causes pronounced localized effects in terms of residual stresses in the upper weld beads.
Von der Anwendung ins Prüflabor: Maßstabsgetreues Bewerten von Spannungen in geschweißten Bauteilen
(2019)
Eigenspannungen sind von zentraler Bedeutung für die Performance geschweißter Bauteile. Die Bewertung schweißbedingter Beanspruchungen im Labormaßstab ist oft nicht zielführend. Reale Bauteilschweißungen weisen geometrisch und konstruktiv bedingt meist divergente Wärmeableitungs- und Einspannbedingungen auf. Dadurch lassen sich häufig nur eingeschränkt Aussagen über Eigenspannungshöhen, -verteilungen und die wesentlichen Einflussfaktoren treffen. Dies führt oftmals zur eher konservativen Konstruktionsauslegung und damit zu einer geringerenRessourcen- und Energieeffizienz. Dieser Beitrag widmet sich den Bestrebungen, reale Randbedingungen beim Bauteilschweißen in das Labor zu übertragen. Es werden die Möglichkeiten eines speziell für diesen Zweck an der BAM entwickelten Prüfsystems mit einer maximalen Tragkraft von 2 MN aufgezeigt. Durch die konstruktive Gestaltung der Anlage lassen sich in Schweißversuchen schweißbedingte Beanspruchungen nachbilden und die komplexen Einflüsse und Wechselwirkungen durch Schweißprozess, Bauteilgeometrie und -konstruktion sowie durch die eingesetzten Grund- und Zusatzwerkstoffe quantifizieren. Darüber hinaus können mittels Röntgenbeugung die resultierenden lokalen Eigenspannungen präzise und mit hoher Ortsauflösung bestimmt werden. Anhand von Beispielen wird die Nachbildung realer Produktionsbedingungen im Labor erörtert und gezeigt, wie die Spannungen beim Schweißen hochfester Baustähle von konstruktiven, werkstoff- und prozessseitigen Randbedingungen abhängen.
So wurde geklärt, wie erhöhte Arbeitstemperaturen zum signifikanten Anstieg der Beanspruchungen führen.
The triaxial distribution of the residual stress in laser powder bed fused austenitic steel 316L was determined by X-ray and neutron diffraction. The residual stress analysis results were linked to the thermal history of the specimens, which were manufactured with varying inter-layer-times and scanning velocities. A clear link between the in-process temperature of the specimens and the residual stress was found, based on in-situ monitoring data.
This study reports on the stress relaxation potential of stress-relieving heat treatments for laser powder bed fused 316L. The residual stress is monitored non-destructively using neutron diffraction before and after the heat treatment. Moreover, the evolution of the microstructure is analysed using scanning electron microscopy. The results show, that a strong relaxation of the residual stress is obtained when applying a heat treatment temperature at 900°C. However, the loss of the cellular substructure needs to be considered when applying this heat treatment strategy.
Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of Ni-based superalloys shows great potential for high temperature applications, for example, as a burner repair application for gas turbines where the thin-walled structure is important. It motivates this work to investigate the evolution of microstructure and the anisotropic mechanical behavior when plate-like specimens are built with a thickness from 4 mm down to 1 mm. By performing texture analysis using neutron diffraction, a clear transition in fiber texture from <011> to <001> is indicated when the specimen becomes thinner. The residual stress shows no thickness dependence, and at the subsurface the residual stress reaches the same level as the yield strength. Due to the rough as-built surface, a roughness compensation method for mechanical properties of thin-walled structures is outlined and demonstrated. Tensile tests from room temperature up to 700 ◦C have been carried out. Anisotropic mechanical behavior is found at all temperatures, which is strongly related to the anisotropic texture evolution. Stronger texture evolution and grain rotations are discovered when the tensile loading is applied along the building direction. The mechanical behavior has been compared to a wrought material, where the high dislocation density and the subgrain structure of the LPBF material result in a higher yield strength. Combining the statistical texture analysis by neutron diffraction with mechanical testing, EBSD grain orientation mapping and the investigation of dislocation structures using transmission electron microscopy, this work illustrates the significance of texture for the thin-wall effect and anisotropic mechanical behavior of LPBF materials.
The effect of two types of scanning strategies on the grain structure and build-up of Residual Stress (RS) has been investigated in an as-built IN718 alloy produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). The RS state has been investigated by X-ray diffraction techniques. The microstructural characterization was performed principally by Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), where the application of a post-measurement refinement technique enables small misorientations (< 2°) to be resolved. Kernel average misorientation (KAM) distributions indicate that preferably oriented columnar grains contain higher levels of misorientation, when compared to elongated grains with lower texture. The KAM distributions combined with X-ray diffraction stress maps infer that the increased misorientation is induced via plastic deformation driven by the thermal stresses, acting to self-relieve stress. The possibility of obtaining lower RS states in the build direction as a consequence of the influence of the microstructure should be considered when envisaging scanning strategies aimed at the mitigation of RS.
The influence of the support structure on residual stress and distortion in SLM Inconel 718 parts
(2018)
The effect of support structure and of removal from the base plate on the residual stress state in selective laser melted IN718 parts was studied by means of synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The residual stresses in subsurface region of two elongated prisms in as-built condition and after removal from the base plate were determined. One sample was directly built on a base plate and another one on a support structure. Also, the distortion on the top surface due to stress release was measured by contact profilometry. High tensile residual stress values were found, with pronounced stress gradient along the hatching direction. In the sample on support, stress redistribution took place after removal from the base plate, as opposed to simple stress relaxation for the sample without support. The sample on support structure showed larger distortion compared to sample without support. We conclude that the use of a support decreases stress values but stress-relieving heat treatments are still needed.
The residual stress (RS) in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) IN718 alloy samples produced using a 67°-rotation scan strategy is investigated via laboratory X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron diffraction (ND). The location dependence of the strain-free (d₀) lattice spacing in ND is evaluated using a grid array of coupons extracted from the far-edge of the investigated specimen. No compositional spatial variation is observed in the grid array. The calculated RS fields show considerable non-uniformity, significant stress gradients in the region from 0.6 to 2 mm below the surface, as well as subsurface maxima that cannot be accounted for via XRD. It is concluded that failure to determine such maxima would hamper a quantitative determination of RS fields by means of the stress balance method.
Although layer-based additive manufacturing methods such as laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) offer an immense geometrical freedom in design, they are typically subject to a build-up of internal stress (i.e. thermal stress) during manufacturing. As a consequence, significant residual stress (RS) is retained in the final part as a footprint of these internal stresses. Furthermore, localized melting and solidification inherently induce columnar-type grain growth accompanied by crystallographic texture. Although diffraction-based methods are commonly used to determine the RS distribution in PBF-LB parts, such features pose metrological challenges in their application. In theory, preferred grain orientation invalidates the hypothesis of isotropic material behavior underlying the common methods to determine RS. In this work, more refined methods are employed to determine RS in PBF-LB/M/IN718 prisms, based on crystallographic texture data. In fact, the employment of direction-dependent elastic constants (i.e. stress factors) for the calculation of RS results in insignificant differences from conventional approaches based on the hypothesis of isotropic mechanical properties. It can be concluded that this result is directly linked to the fact that the {311} lattice planes typically used for RS analysis in nickel-based alloys have high multiplicity and less strong texture intensities compared with other lattice planes. It is also found that the length of the laser scan vectors determines the surface RS distribution in prisms prior to their removal from the baseplate. On removal from the baseplate the surface RS considerably relaxes and/or redistributes; a combination of the geometry and the scanning strategy dictates the sub-surface RS distribution.
The subject of this study is how, and to what extent, Varestraint/Transvarestraint test results are influenced by both testing parameters and characteristics of evaluation methods. Several different high-alloyed martensitic LTT (low Transformation temperature) filler materials, CrNi and CrMn type, were selected for examination due to their rather distinctive solidification cracking behaviour, which aroused interest after previous studies. First, the effects of different process parameter sets on the solidification cracking response were measured using standard approaches. Subsequently, microfocus X-ray computer tomography (μCT) scans were performed on the specimens. The results consistently show sub-surface cracking to significant yet varying extents. Different primary solidification types were found using wavelength dispersive X-ray (WDX) analysis conducted on filler metals with varying Cr/Ni equivalent ratios. This aspect is regarded as the main difference between the CrNiand CrMn-type materials in matters of cracking characteristics. Results show that when it comes to testing of modern highperformance alloys, one set of standard Varestraint testing parameters might not be equally suitable for all materials. Also, to properly accommodate different solidification types, sub-surface cracking has to be taken into account.
Stresses in repair welding of high-strength steels—part 2: heat control and stress optimization
(2024)
In welding of high-strength steels, e.g. for foundations and erection structures of wind energy plants, unacceptable defects can occasionally be found in the weld area, which should be removed by thermal gouging and subsequent re-welding. High shrinkage restraint of repair welds may lead to crack formation and component failure, predominantly in interaction with degraded microstructures and mechanical properties due to repair cycles. This study aims for elaboration of recommendations for repair concepts appropriate to the stresses and materials involved to avoid cold cracking, damage and expensive reworking. In part 1 [1] of this study, systematic investigations of influences of shrinkage restraint on residual stresses and cold cracking risk during repair welding of two high-strength steels S500MLO for offshore application and S960QL for mobile crane structures were focussed. In this part 2, the microstructure, particularly hardness, and residual stresses due to gouging and influences of heat control parameters in repair welding are analysed. A clear reduction in residual stress after gouging can be observed, especially for the specimens with restrained transverse shrinkage. Gouging to a depth of approx. 2/3 of the seam height does not lead to a complete relaxation of the observed reaction forces. Particularly for the higher strength steel S960QL, there are pronounced areas influenced by the gouging process in which a degradation of the microstructure and properties should be assumed. Overall, the repair welds show a significant increase in the width of the weld and HAZ compared to the original weld, especially in the case of S960QL/G89. The repair welds show higher welding-induced stresses than the original welds, especially in the areas of the HAZ and the base metal close to the weld seam. This behaviour can be attributed overall to increased restraint conditions due to the remaining root weld or shorter gouge grooves. In good agreement with earlier investigations, the residual stresses transverse to the weld can be significantly reduced by upwardly limited working or interpass temperatures, and the reaction stresses resulting from high restraint conditions can be effectively counteracted. The influence of the heat input on the stress formation is low compared to the interpass temperature for both test materials.
AbstractThe sustainable and resource-efficient production of wind energy plants requires the use of modern high-strength fine-grain structural steels. This applies to both foundation and erection structures, like mobile or ship cranes. During the assembly of steel structures, unacceptable defects can occasionally be found in the weld area. In most cases, the economical solution would be local thermal gouging of the affected areas and re-welding. Due to the high shrinkage restraint of the joint groove in the overall structure, the superposition of global and local welding-induced stresses may lead to crack formation and component failure, particularly in interaction with the degradation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of high-strength steels during the repair process. However, manufacturers hardly have any information about these issues and there is a lack of recommendations and guidelines to take these safety-relevant aspects into account in adequate repair concepts. The aim of this research is to derive recommendations for repair concepts appropriate to the stresses and materials involved providing a basis for standards and guidelines to avoid cold cracking, damage and expensive reworking especially for high-strength steels. Part 1 of this study involves systematic investigations of influences of shrinkage restraint during repair welding of two high-strength steels S500MLO for offshore application and S960QL for mobile crane structures. The quantification of the shrinkage restraint of repair weld joints was achieved by means of experimental and numerical restraint intensity analysis. In welding experiments with self-restrained slot specimens, restraint intensity and introduction of hydrogen via the welding arc using anti spatter spray were varied systematically to analyse the effect on welding result, residual stresses and cold cracking. It could be shown that increasing restraint intensities result in significantly higher transverse residual stress levels. In the case of hydrogen introduction S500MLO showed no cold cracking independent of the restraint conditions. However, S960QL was found to be considerably cold cracking sensitive if hydrogen is introduced. With increasing restraint intensity length and number of cold cracks increases significantly. Part 2 [1] of this study is focussed on microstructure and residual stresses due to gouging and stress optimization via adequate heat control parameters in repair welding.
Solidification Cracking Assessment of LTT Filler Materials by Means of Varestraint Testing and μCT
(2020)
Investigations of the weldability of metals often deal with hot cracking, as one of the most dreaded imperfections during weld fabrication. The hot cracking investigations presented in this paper were carried out as part of a study on the development of low transformation temperature (LTT) weld filler materials. These alloys allow to mitigate tensile residual stresses that usually arise during welding using conventional weld filler materials. By this means, higher fatigue strength and higher lifetimes of the weld can be achieved. However, LTT weld filler materials are for example, high-alloyed Cr/Ni steels that are susceptible to the formation of hot cracks. To assess hot cracking, we applied the standardized modified varestraint transvarestraint hot cracking test (MVT), which is well appropriate to evaluate different base or filler materials with regard to their hot cracking susceptibility. In order to consider the complete material volume for the assessment of hot cracking, we additionally applied microfocus X-ray computer tomography (μCT). It is shown that by a suitable selection of welding and MVT parameter the analysis of the complete 3D hot crack network can provide additional information with regard to the hot cracking model following Prokhorov. It is now possible to determine easy accessible substitute values (e.g., maximum crack depth) for the extent of the Brittleness Temperature Range (BTR) and the minimum critical strain Pmin.
Die Verwendung von LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffen stellt einen alternativen Ansatz zu den sonst üblichen Verfahren der Schweißnahtnachbehandlung zur Schwingfestigkeitserhöhung geschweißter Stahlkonstruktionen dar. Der wesentliche Wirkmechanismus beruht auf der Beeinflussung des Eigenspannungszustands durch die niedrige Martensitstarttemperatur bereits während des Schweißens. Dadurch werden die Druckeigenspannungen aus der behinderten Volumenausdehnung infolge Phasenumwandlung voll wirksam. Weiter weist die Schweißnaht eine hohe Härte auf, die die Schwingrissbildung verzögern kann, allerdings auch zu einer niedrigen Kerbschlagarbeit führt.
Im vorliegenden Forschungsvorhaben wurden grundlegende Untersuchungen zur schweißtechnischen Verarbeitung eines LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffes durchgeführt. Dies beinhaltet die Sicherstellung der Schweißbarkeit sowie die Charakterisierung der Verbindungseigenschaften.
Untersuchungen zur Schweißeignung machten deutlich, dass ein sicherer Einsatz in dem für hochfeste Stähle zur Verfügung stehenden Arbeitsfenster möglich ist. Der verwendete LTT-Zusatz auf Cr-Ni-Basis lässt sich mit hoher Nahtgüte fügen. Auch die mechanischen Eigenschaften erlauben den Einsatz im Bereich hochfester Stähle mit einer Streckgrenze von 960 MPa. Entwicklungspotential gibt es hinsichtlich der Zähigkeit. Die in dieser Arbeit erreichten Kerbschlagwerte liegen deutlich unter denen kommerziell verfügbarer konventioneller Schweißgüter. Die Untersuchungen belegen, dass der Effekt der martensitischen Phasenumwandlung im gesamten Schweißgut zum Tragen kommt. Die angestrebten hohen Druckeigenspannungen finden sich vornehmlich im Schweißgutinnern.
Im weiteren Vorgehen wurden Schwingfestigkeitsuntersuchungen an den Stählen S355J2 und S960Q unter Verwendung konventioneller Zusatzwerkstoffe im Vergleich zum LTT-Zusatz durchgeführt. Die verwendeten Konstruktionsdetails sind ein Stumpfstoß unter Variation der Schweißnahtausführung (DY-Naht und V-Naht), ein Kreuzstoß mit HV-Naht sowie ein Überlappstoß mit einseitig und beidseitig geschweißter Kehlnaht.
Weitergehend wurde eine bauteilähnliche Probe (die Längssteife) untersucht, bei der der LTT-Zusatzwerkstoff als zusätzliche Schweißlage aufgebracht wurde. Neben der Schwingfestigkeit wurden die Schweißnähte hinsichtlich der Eigenspannungen, der Eigenspannungsstabilität im Schwingversuch sowie metallografisch charakterisiert.
Eine generell positive Wirkung des LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffes im Hinblick auf die Schwingfestigkeitssteigerung kann nicht bestätigt werden. Teilweise ist eine Steigerung der Schwingfestigkeit bei Substitution konventioneller Zusatzwerkstoffe zu beobachten, teilweise zeigt sich kein Effekt. Ursächlich hierfür ist die bei manchen Stoßformen mangelnde Steifigkeit quer zur Schweißnaht, die zur Ausbildung hoher Druckeigenspannungen infolge Phasenumwandlung notwendig wäre. Die bauteilähnliche Längssteife bestätigt allerdings das grundlegende Potential der LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffe bei Vorliegen hinreichender Steifigkeit.
Die Verwendung von LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffen stellt einen alternativen Ansatz zu den sonst üblichen Verfahren der Schweißnahtnachbehandlung zur Schwingfestigkeitserhöhung geschweißter Stahlkonstruktionen dar. Der wesentliche Wirkmechanismus beruht auf der Beeinflussung des Eigenspannungszustands durch die niedrige Martensitstarttemperatur bereits während des Schweißens. Dadurch werden die Druckeigenspannungen aus der behinderten Volumenausdehnung infolge Phasenumwandlung voll wirksam. Weiter weist die Schweißnaht eine hohe Härte auf, die die Schwingrissbildung verzögern kann, allerdings auch zu einer niedrigen Kerbschlagarbeit führt.
Im ersten Teil dieses Beitrages werden grundlegende Untersuchungen zur schweißtechnischen Verarbeitung eines LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffes präsentiert. Dies beinhaltet zunächst die Sicherstellung der Schweißbarkeit sowie die Charakterisierung der Schweißgefüge und deren Härte mit dem Ziel, reproduzierbare Verbindungseigenschaften für die nachfolgende Schwingfestigkeitsprüfung herzustellen.
Der zweite Teil des Beitrages beschäftigt sich mit den dazugehörigen Schwingfestigkeitsuntersuchungen an den Stählen S355J2 und S960Q unter Verwendung konventioneller Zusatzwerkstoffe im Vergleich zum LTT-Zusatz. Das verwendete Schweißdetail ist eine Verbindungsschweißung am Stumpfstoß unter Variation der Schweißnahtausführung (DY-Naht und V-Naht). Weitergehend wird eine bauteilähnliche Probe (die Längssteife) untersucht, bei der der LTT-Zusatzwerkstoff als zusätzliche Schweißlage aufgebracht wurde. Neben der Schwingfestigkeit werden die Schweißnähte hinsichtlich der Eigenspannungen, der Eigenspannungsstabilität im Schwingversuch sowie metallo-grafisch charakterisiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffe unter Einhaltung wesentlicher Konstruktionsrichtlinien zu einem deutlichen Anstieg der Schwingfestigkeit führen. Dadurch kann das Leichtbaupotential hochfester Stahlgüten genutzt werden.
Die Verwendung von LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffen stellt einen alternativen Ansatz zu den sonst üblichen Verfahren der Schweißnahtnachbehandlung zur Schwingfestigkeitserhöhung geschweißter Stahlkonstruktionen dar. Der wesentliche Wirkmechanismus beruht auf der Beeinflussung des Eigenspannungszustands durch die niedrige Martensitstarttemperatur bereits während des Schweißens. Dadurch werden die Druckeigenspannungen aus der behinderten Volumenausdehnung infolge Phasenumwandlung voll wirksam. Weiter weist die Schweißnaht eine hohe Härte auf, die die Schwingrissbildung verzögern kann, allerdings auch zu einer niedrigen Kerbschlagarbeit führt.
Im ersten Teil dieses Beitrages werden grundlegende Untersuchungen zur schweißtechnischen Verarbeitung eines LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffes präsentiert. Dies beinhaltet zunächst die Sicherstellung der Schweißbarkeit sowie die Charakterisierung der Schweißgefüge und deren Härte mit dem Ziel, reproduzierbare Verbindungseigenschaften für die nachfolgende Schwingfestigkeitsprüfung herzustellen. Der zweite Teil des Beitrages beschäftigt sich mit den dazugehörigen Schwingfestigkeitsuntersuchungen an den Stählen S355J2 und S960Q unter Verwendung konventioneller Zusatzwerkstoffe im Vergleich zum LTT-Zusatz.
Das verwendete Schweißdetail ist eine Verbindungsschweißung am Stumpfstoß unter Variation der Schweißnahtausführung (DY-Naht und V-Naht). Weitergehend wird eine bauteilähnliche Probe (die Längssteife) untersucht, bei der der LTT-Zusatzwerkstoff als zusätzliche Schweißlage aufgebracht wurde. Neben der Schwingfestigkeit werden die Schweißnähte hinsichtlich der Eigenspannungen, der Eigenspannungsstabilität im Schwingversuch sowie metallografisch charakterisiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffe unter Einhaltung wesentlicher Konstruktionsrichtlinien zu einem deutlichen Anstieg der Schwingfestigkeit führen. Dadurch kann das Leichtbaupotential hochfester Stahlgüten genutzt werden.
Die Verwendung von LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffen stellt einen alternativen Ansatz zu den sonst üblichen Verfahren der Schweißnahtnachbehandlung zur Schwingfestigkeitserhöhung geschweißter Stahlkonstruktionen dar. Der wesentliche Wirkmechanismus beruht auf der Beeinflussung des Eigenspannungszustands durch die niedrige Martensitstarttemperatur bereits während des Schweißens. Dadurch werden die Druckeigenspannungen aus der behinderten Volumenausdehnung infolge Phasenumwandlung voll wirksam. Weiter weist die Schweißnaht eine hohe Härte auf, die die Schwingrissbildung verzögern kann, allerdings auch zu einer niedrigen Kerbschlagarbeit führt.
Im ersten Teil dieses Beitrages werden grundlegende Untersuchungen zur schweißtechnischen Verarbeitung eines LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffes präsentiert. Dies beinhaltet zunächst die Sicherstellung der Schweißbarkeit sowie die Charakterisierung der Schweißgefüge und deren Härte mit dem Ziel, reproduzierbare Verbindungseigenschaften für die nachfolgende Schwingfestigkeitsprüfung herzustellen.
Der zweite Teil des Beitrages beschäftigt sich mit den dazugehörigen Schwingfestigkeitsuntersuchungen an den Stählen S355J2 und S960Q unter Verwendung konventioneller Zusatzwerkstoffe im Vergleich zum LTT-Zusatz.
Das verwendete Schweißdetail ist eine Verbindungsschweißung am Stumpfstoß unter Variation der Schweißnahtausführung (DY-Naht und V-Naht). Weitergehend wird eine bauteilähnliche Probe (die Längssteife) untersucht, bei der der LTT-Zusatzwerkstoff als zusätzliche Schweißlage aufgebracht wurde. Neben der Schwingfestigkeit werden die Schweißnähte hinsichtlich der Eigenspannungen, der Eigenspannungsstabilität im Schwingversuch sowie metallografisch charakterisiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass LTT-Zusatzwerkstoffe unter Einhaltung wesentlicher Konstruktionsrichtlinien zu einem deutlichen Anstieg der Schwingfestigkeit führen. Dadurch kann das Leichtbaupotential hochfester Stahlgüten genutzt werden.
Scanning Manufacturing Parameters Determining the Residual Stress State in LPBF IN718 Small Parts
(2021)
The influence of scan strategy on the residual stress (RS) state of an as-built IN718 alloy produced by means of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is investigated. Two scan vector rotations (90°-alternation and 67°-rotation), each produced following two different scan vector lengths (long and short), are used to manufacture four rectangular prisms. Neutron diffraction (ND) and laboratory X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques are used to map the bulk and surface RS state, respectively. The distortion induced upon removal from the baseplate is measured via profilometry. XRD measurements show that the two long scan vector strategies lead to higher RS when compared with the equivalent short scan vector strategies. Also, the 67°-rotation strategies generate lower RS than their 90°-alternation counterparts. Due to the lack of reliable stress-free d0 references, the ND results are analyzed using von Mises stress. In general, ND results show significant RS spatial non-uniformity. A comparison between ND and distortion results indicates that the RS component parallel to the building direction (Z-axis) has a predominant role in the Z-displacement. The use of a stress balance scheme allows to discuss the d0 variability along the length of the specimens, as well as examine the absolute RS state.
Additive Manufacturing (AM) through the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) route offers ample scope for producing geometrically complex parts compared to the conventional subtractive manufacturing strategies. Nevertheless, the residual stresses which develop during the fabrication can limit application of the SLM components by reducing the load bearing capacity and by inducing unwanted distortion, depending on the boundary conditions specified during manufacturing. The present study aims at characterizing the residual stress states in the SLM parts using different diffraction methods. The material used is the nickel based superalloy Inconel 718. Microstructure as well as the surface and bulk residual stresses were characterized. For the residual stress analysis, X-ray, synchrotron and neutron diffraction methods were used. The measurements were performed at BAM, at the EDDI beamline of -BESSY II synchrotronand the E3 line -BER II neutron reactor- of the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie (HZB) Berlin. The results reveal significant differences in the residual stress states for the different characterization techniques employed, which indicates the dependence of the residual state on the penetration depth in the sample. For the surface residual stresses, longitudinal and transverse stress components from X-ray and synchrotron agree well and the obtained values were around the yield strength of the material. Furthermore, synchrotron mapping disclosed gradients along the width and length of the sample for the longitudinal and transverse stress components. On the other hand, lower residual stresses were found in the bulk of the material measured using neutron diffraction. The longitudinal component was tensile and decreased towards the boundary of the sample. In contrast, the normal component was nearly constant and compressive in nature. The transversal component was almost negligible. The results indicate that a stress re-distribution takes place during the deposition of the consecutive layers. Further investigations are planned to study the phenomenon in detail.
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 with 22 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 residual stresses were determined by a robot XRD goniometer. A least square regression analysis of the sin²ψ-law by using multiple ψ- and φ-tilts was applied. 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, enabling the determination of critical conditions for the formation of HAC. In a future step, a structural simulation will allow the assessment of the welding residual stresses and the comparison to the XRD-values.
This article focuses on the selective placement of additional LTT layers to generate compressive residual stresses in fatigue-critical areas of conventional weld joints. This enables an economical solution without effecting the integrity of welded joints. For this, longitudinal stiffeners made of high-strength steel were gas metal arc welded using conventional welding consumable in the first layer. Afterwards, a chromium-nickel alloyed LTT welding consumable was deposit on front sides of the stiffeners. By varying the welding parameters, different weld geometries of the LTT filler metal could be analyzed. The effects of additional LTT layers were investigated with regards to residual stresses, microstructure and strength. X-ray residual stresses measurements show that the residual stresses at the failure critical weld toe are significantly reduced by using additional LTT layers. While the conventional weld is characterized by tensile residual stresses, compressive residual stresses can be detected at the LTT weld. The level of residual stresses is influenced by the geometry of the LTT layer. Additional LTT layers with a high offset to the conventional weld generate more compressive residual stress in the HAZ than with a low offset. Therefore, the weld geometry has a considerable impact on the residual stress profile.
The residual stress distribution in IN718 elongated prisms produced by Selective Laser Melting was studied by means of neutron (bulk) and laboratory X-ray (surface) diffraction.
Two deposition hatch lengths were considered. A horizontal plane near the top surface (perpendicular to the building direction) and a vertical plane near the lateral surface (parallel to the building direction) were investigated. Samples both in as-built (AB) condition and removed (RE) from the base plate were characterized.
While surface stress fields seem constant for AB condition, X-ray diffraction shows stress gradients along the hatch direction in the RE condition. The stress profiles correlate with the distortion maps obtained by tactile probe measurements.
Neutron diffraction shows bulk stress gradients for all principal components along the main sample directions. We correlate the observed stress patterns with the hatch length, i.e. with its effect on temperature gradients and heat flow. The bulk stress gradients partially disappear after removal from the baseplate.
Additive Manufacturing (AM) through the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) route offers ample scope for producing geometrically complex parts compared to the conventional subtractive manufacturing strategies. Nevertheless, the residual stresses which develop during the fabrication can limit application of the SLM components by reducing the load bearing capacity and by inducing unwanted distortion, depending on the boundary conditions specified during manufacturing.
The present study aims at characterizing the residual stress states in the SLM parts using different diffraction methods. The material used is the nickel based superalloy Inconel 718. Microstructure as well as the surface and bulk residual stresses were characterized. For the residual stress analysis, X-ray, synchrotron and neutron diffraction methods were used. The measurements were performed at BAM, at the EDDI beamline of -BESSY II synchrotron- and the E3 line -BER II neutron reactor- of the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie (HZB) Berlin.
The results reveal significant differences in the residual stress states for the different characterization techniques employed, which indicates a dependence of the residual state on the penetration depth in the sample. For the surface residual stresses, longitudinal and transverse stress components from both X-ray and synchrotron agree well and the obtained values were around the yield strength of the material. Furthermore, synchrotron mapping disclosed gradients along the width and length of the sample for the longitudinal and transverse stress components. On the other hand, lower residual stresses were found in the bulk of the material measured using neutron diffraction. The longitudinal component was tensile and decreased towards the boundary of the sample. In contrast, the normal component was nearly constant and compressive in nature. The transversal component was almost negligible. The results indicate that a stress re-distribution takes place during the deposition of the consecutive layers. Further investigations are planned to study the phenomenon in detail.
Additive Manufacturing (AM) through the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) route offers ample scope for producing geometrically complex parts compared to the conventional subtractive manufacturing strategies. Nevertheless, the residual stresses which develop during the fabrication can limit application of the SLM components by reducing the load bearing capacity and by inducing unwanted distortion, depending on the boundary conditions specified during manufacturing. The present study aims at characterizing the residual stress states in the SLM parts using different diffraction methods. The material used is the nickel based superalloy Inconel 718. Microstructure as well as the surface and bulk residual stresses were characterized.
For the residual stress analysis, X-ray, synchrotron and neutron diffraction methods were used. The measurements were performed at BAM, at the EDDI beamline of -BESSY II synchrotronand the E3 line -BER II neutron reactor- of the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie (HZB) Berlin. The results reveal significant differences in the residual stress states for the different characterization techniques employed, which indicates the dependence of the residual state on the penetration depth in the sample. For the surface residual stresses, longitudinal and transverse stress components from X-ray and synchrotron agree well and the obtained values were around the yield strength of the material. Furthermore, synchrotron mapping disclosed gradients along the width and length of the sample for the longitudinal and transverse stress components. On the other hand, lower residual stresses were found in the bulk of the material measured using neutron diffraction. The longitudinal component was tensile and decreased towards the boundary of the sample. In contrast, the normal component was nearly constant and compressive in nature. The transversal component was almost negligible. The results indicate that a stress re-distribution takes place during the deposition of the consecutive layers. Further investigations are planned to study the phenomenon in detail.
Additive manufacturing (AM) processes enable the efficient production of advanced constructions. Direct energy deposition processes such as wire and arc-based additive manufacturing (DED-arc) are important methods. The wire filler metals enable a wide range of materials. In addition, the arc process provides a high deposition rate compared to laser and powder-based processes. Furthermore, components can be manufactured near-net-shape, offering significant savings in cost, time, and resources. Combined with the use of high-strength steels to reduce wall or component thicknesses in the context of lightweight design, great opportunities for saving energy and resources can be achieved. In a joint project of BAM and Chemnitz University of Technology, the main influences and complex interactions of material, production process, design and processing steps on the residual stress level are investigated. The aim is to develop processing recommendations and a cold cracking test for economical processing and stress-related design of high-strength steels with DED-arc. This study focuses on residual stress analysis by neutron diffraction (ND) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) on defined test specimens. The ND analysis were performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the XRD analysis at BAM. The study shows a quantitative and qualitative comparison of the residual stress magnitudes and distribution between the component bulk (ND) and surface (XRD) analyses. The ND analysis reveals that in DED-arc AM walls the residual stresses dominate in the direction of welding and are negligibly small in each case transverse to the direction of welding. The topology of the analyzed residual stresses shows almost identical residual stress maps. In addition, the residual stresses are significantly influenced by the solid phase transformation of the material due to low cooling times in the area of the top layer.
Submerged arc welded (SAW) components of creep-resistant low-alloyed Cr-Mo-V steels are used for thick-walled heavy petrochemical reactors (wall-thickness up to 475 mm) as well as employed in construction of modern high-efficient fossil fired power plants. These large components are accompanied by significant restraints during welding fabrication, especially at positions of different thicknesses like welding of nozzles. As a result, residual stresses occur, playing a domi-nant role concerning so-called stress relief cracking (SRC) typically during post weld heat treat-ment (PWHT). Besides specific metallurgical factors (like secondary hardening due to re-precipitation), high tensile residual stresses are a considerable influence factor on SRC. For the assessment of SRC susceptibility of certain materials mostly mechanical tests are applied which are isolated from the welding process. Conclusions regarding the influence of mechanical factors are rare so far. The present research follows an approach to reproduce loads, which occur during welding of real thick-walled components scaled to laboratory conditions by using tests designed on different measures. A large-scale slit specimen giving a high restraint in 3 dimensions by high stiffness was compared to a medium-scale multi-pass welding U-profile specimen showing a high degree of restraint in longitudinal direction and a small-scale TIG-re-melted specimen. The small-scale specimens were additionally subjected to mechanical bending to induce loads that are found during fabrication on the real-scale in heavy components. Results show for all three cases compa-rable high tensile residual stresses up to yield strength with high gradients in the weld metal and the heat affected zone. Those high tensile stresses can be significant for cracking during further PWHT.
Submerged arc welded (SAW) components of creep-resistant low-alloyed Cr-Mo-V steels are used for thick-walled heavy petrochemical reactors (wall-thickness up to 475 mm) as well as employed in construction of modern high-efficient fossil fired power plants. These large components are accompanied by significant restraints during welding fabrication, especially at positions of different thicknesses like welding of nozzles. As a result, residual stresses occur, playing a dominant role concerning so-called stress relief cracking (SRC) typically during post weld heat treatment (PWHT). Besides specific metallurgical factors (like secondary hardening due to reprecipitation), high tensile residual stresses are a considerable influence factor on SRC.
For the assessment of SRC susceptibility of certain materials mostly mechanical tests are applied which are isolated from the welding process. Conclusions regarding the influence of mechanical factors are rare so far. The present research follows an approach to reproduce loads, which occur during welding of real thick-walled components scaled to laboratory conditions by using Tests designed on different measures. A large-scale slit specimen giving a high restraint in 3 dimensions by high stiffness was compared to a medium-scale multi-pass welding U-Profile specimen showing a high degree of restraint in longitudinal direction and a small-scale TIG-remelted specimen. The small-scale specimens were additionally subjected to mechanical bending to induce loads that are found during fabrication on the real-scale in heavy components. Results show for all three cases comparable high tensile residual stresses up to yield strength with high gradients in the weld metal and the heat affected zone. Those high tensile stresses can be significant for cracking during further PWHT.
Die Integrität von Leichtbaustrukturen aus hochfesten Stählen ist zunehmend durch die Bildung von Heißrissen gefährdet. Aktuell treten Erstarrungsrisse an Konstruktionsmerkmalen auf, obwohl heißrisssichere niedriglegierte Grund- und Zusatzwerkstoffe als auch Schweißprozessbedingungen eingesetzt wurden. Werkstoff- und prozessseitig wurden diese Rissursachen bereits eingehend erforscht. Untersuchungen zum Aspekt der konstruktiv bedingten Heißrissvermeidung, aus denen sich Empfehlungen für ein beanspruchungsgerechtes Gestalten für KMU ableiten lassen, liegen bislang lückenhaft vor bzw. sind veraltet und für hochfeste Leichtbauten kaum zielführend. Konstruktive Gegenmaßnahmen zur Vermeidung von Erstarrungsrissen liegen oft nicht vor. Das Design und die konstruktiven Randbedingungen beeinflussen die Erstarrungsrisse entscheidend. Um eine schnelle Umsetzbarkeit der Resultate für KMU zu ermöglichen, soll eine einfache und kostengünstige Methodik zur Heißrissbewertung entwickelt werden. Gerade KMU haben einen hohen Nachholbedarf an heißrisssicheren und wirtschaftlichen Leichtbaulösungen. Konstrukteure und Anwender aus KMU würden durch fundierte Kenntnisse über mögliche erstarrungsrisskritische Beanspruchungszustände kostenintensive Qualitätsmängel vermeiden. Das Ziel ist es, Kenngrößen zu identifizieren, die während des Schweißens unter realitätsnahen Bedingungen erfasst werden können. Diese Parameter werden als Transfergrößen genutzt, um eine Heißrissbewertung eines geschweißten Bauteils zu ermöglichen. Anliegen des Vorhabens wird die Prüfung und Bewertung von typischen Beanspruchungszuständen beim Schweißen von Leichtbaustrukturen hinsichtlich ihrer Erstarrungsrissneigung sein. Durch Ableitung klassifizierter Gestaltungshinweise wird ein signifikanter Beitrag zur Steigerung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit insbesondere für KMU geliefert. Die Ergebnisse werden in Normen zur sicheren schweißtechnischen Fertigung von Leichtbaustrukturen aus hochfesten Stählen direkt einfließen.
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.
Phase Transformation and Strain Evolution during Welding of Low Transformation Temperature Alloys
(2021)
In this work, the phase and strain formation in multipass welding of LTT gas metal arc welds were observed under realistic restraints by means of time resolved angular-dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction at the High Energy Materials Science beamline HEMS at PETRA III (DESY), Hamburg Germany. It was shown that the strain evolution during cooling correlates with the amount of martensite formed. Both, the strain of martensite and austenite are affected during phase transformation. Even though dilution processes limit the LTT effect in the root compared to the top layer, the strains are significantly reduced compared to the conventional weld metal. The observed effects are found for both Ni and Mn based LTT filler metals regardless of their respective Ms temperature.
Welding residual stress engineering by means of an adjusted martensite phase transformation would be highly attractive as detrimental tensile residual stresses may be prevented already during welding without time and cost intensive post processing. The present study shows a synchrotron diffraction analysis of a martensitic steel subjected to thermo-mechanical load cycles. Experiments were conducted regarding the microstructural strain response during the austenite to martensite transformation. The strains are a function of the temperature and the specific loads applied during cooling. The relation between the transformation plasticity of the material, the amount of martensite formed and the arising strains can thus be assessed. The lattice plane specific strains were compared to experimental findings from (macro) dilatation tests. It is shown that the microscopic material behavior differs remarkably from the one observed on the macroscopic scale, what leads to characteristic residual stresses in the material.
Welding residual stress engineering by means of an adjusted martensite phase transformation would be highly attractive as detrimental tensile residual stresses may be prevented already during welding without time and cost intensive post processing. The present study shows a synchrotron diffraction analysis of a martensitic steel subjected to thermo-mechanical load cycles. Experiments were conducted regarding the microstructural strain response during the austenite to martensite transformation. The strains are a function of the temperature and the specific loads applied during cooling. The relation between the transformation plasticity of the material, the amount of martensite formed and the arising strains can thus be assessed. The lattice plane specific strains were compared to experimental findings from (macro) dilatation tests. It is shown that the microscopic material behavior differs remarkably from the one observed on the macroscopic scale, what leads to characteristic residual stresses in the material.
The Varestraint test and its variant Transvarestraint are one of the most widely used techniques for evaluating a material solidification cracking sensitivity during welding. The result of such tests is a crack length which is proportional to the material’s cracking susceptibility. Nevertheless, the welding and load parameters can unintentionally influence the crack length, which in some cases can distort the material evaluation. An approach is described as to how these effects can be assessed with the aid of a digital crack analysis. The crack lengths are compared position-dependently with their possible propagation due to the weld pool movement during continuous loading. The index derived from this can be used by the operator to evaluate his test parameters. In addition, a comparison of the results of different Varestraint setups is made possible. Alongside experimental results, a numerical sensitivity analysis is presented on how individual welding and loading parameters can affect the crack lengths.
The relationship between residual stresses and microstructure associated with a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) IN718 alloy has been investigated on specimens produced with three different scanning strategies (unidirectional Y-scan, 90° XY-scan, and 67° Rot-scan). Synchrotron X-ray energy-dispersive diffraction (EDXRD) combined with optical profilometry was used to study residual stress (RS) distribution and distortion upon removal of the specimens from the baseplate. The microstructural characterization of both the bulk and the nearsurface regions was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). On the top surfaces of the specimens, the highest RS values are observed in the Y-scan specimen and the lowest in the Rot-scan specimen, while the tendency is inversed on the side lateral surfaces. A considerable amount of RS remains in the specimens after their removal from the baseplate, especially in the Y- and Z-direction (short specimen Dimension and building direction (BD), respectively). The distortion measured on the top surface following baseplate thinning and subsequent removal is mainly attributed to the amount of RS released in the build direction. Importantly, it is observed that the additive manufacturing microstructures challenge the use of classic theoretical models for the calculation of diffraction elastic constants (DEC) required for diffraction-based RS analysis. It is found that when the Reuß model is used for the calculation of RS for different crystal planes, as opposed to the conventionally used Kröner model, the results exhibit lower scatter. This is discussed in context of experimental measurements of DEC available in the literature for conventional and additively manufactured Ni-base alloys.
The control of friction and wear is a major concern in many industrial applications. A promising method for tailored surface modification is the so-called laser implantation technique. This method combines surface texturing and material optimization in one processing step by a localized dispersing of hard ceramic particles using pulsed laser radiation. Wear resistant, protruding micrometric features (implants) with defined geometry can be created in a deterministic pattern where needed on highly stressed surfaces, i.e., on forming or cutting tools.
However, in order to maintain the implants over the tool’s lifetime, a suitable selection of hard ceramic particles is a prerequisite. They must provide a defect-free metal matrix composite with a high share of homogeneously distributed particles and, especially, high implant hardness. In this study, TiN, TiC, and TiB2 hard particles were compared as implant materials for the first time. By a systematic variation of pulse power and pulse duration, their dispersing behavior and influence on the material properties of AISI D2 tool steel were investigated.
Although all powder materials had grain sizes smaller than 10 μm, it was possible to disperse them by pulsed laser radiation and to obtain defect-free protruding implants. The highest share of dispersed particles (∼64%) was observed for TiB2. By scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, it was also shown that a significant share of the preplaced particles was dissolved by the laser beam and precipitated as nanometer sized particles within the matrix during solidification. These in situ formed particles have a decisive influence on the material properties. While the TiN and TiC implants have shown maximum hardness values of 750 and 850 HV1, the TiB2 implants have shown the highest hardness values with more than 1600 HV1. By x-ray diffraction, it was possible to ascribe the lower hardness values of TiC and TiN implants to high amounts of retained austenite in the metal matrix. By implanting TiB2, the formation of retained austenite was successfully suppressed due to the in situ formation of TiC particles, which was proven by electron backscatter diffraction.
In conclusion, all the implant materials are basically suitable for laser implantation on AISI D2 tool steel. However, TiB2 has shown
the most promising results.
The control of friction and wear is a major concern in many industrial applications. A promising method for a tailored surface modification is the so-called laser implantation technique. This method combines surface texturing and material optimization in one processing step by a localized dispersing of hard ceramic particles using pulsed laser radiation. Wear resistant, protruding micrometric features (implants) with defined geometry can be created in deterministic pattern where needed on highly stressed surfaces, i.e. on forming or cutting tools. However, in order to maintain the implants over the tool’s lifetime, a suitable selection of hard ceramic particles is a prerequisite. They must provide a defect-free Metal Matrix Composite with a high share of homogeneously distributed particles and especially a high implant hardness.
In this study TiN, TiC and TiB2 hard particles were compared as implant materials for the first time. By a systematic variation of the pulse power and pulse duration, their dispersing behavior and influence on the material properties of AISI D2 tool steel was investigated. Although all powder materials had grain sizes smaller than 10 µm, it was possible to disperse them by pulsed laser radiation and to obtain defect-free protruding implants. The highest share of dispersed particles (~64 %) was observed for TiB2. By scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, it was also shown that a significant share of the pre-placed particles was dissolved by the laser beam and precipitated as nanometer sized particles within the matrix during solidification. These in-situ formed particles have a decisive influence on the material properties. While the TiN and TiC implants have shown maximum hardness values of 750 HV1 and 850 HV1, the TiB2 implants have shown the highest hardness values with more than 1600 HV1. By X-ray diffraction, it was possible to ascribe the lower hardness values of TiC and TiN implants to high amounts of retained austenite in the metal matrix. By implanting TiB2, the formation of retained austenite was successfully suppressed due to the in-situ formation of TiC particles, which was proven by electron backscatter diffraction. In conclusion, all the implant materials are basically suitable for laser implantation on AISI D2 tool steel. However, TiB2 has shown the most promising results.
Der zunehmende Bedarf an hochfesten Feinkornbaustählen in modernen Schweißkonstruktionen, in einer deutlich wachsenden Anzahl von Branchen wie dem Hoch-, Anlagen- und Kranbau, führte in den letzten Jahren zur Entwicklung zahlreicher Grund- und Zusatzwerkstoffe. Neben der Erreichung anforderungsgerechter mechanischer Eigenschaften wird die wirtschaftliche Verarbeitung dieser Güten durch hohe Sicherheitsanforderungen an die Schweißnaht bestimmt. Hohe Zugeigenspannungen in der Schweißverbindung können die Beanspruchbarkeit und Sicherheit eines geschweißten Bauteils wesentlich reduzieren. Insbesondere bei einer hohen konstruktiven Schrumpfbehinderung können die Beanspruchungen auch schon während der Fertigung ein risskritisches Niveau erreichen.
Mittels geeigneten Wärmeführungen beim Schweißen und der adäquaten Auswahl von Schweißprozess und Zusatzwerkstoffen ist sowohl eine Minimierung der sich lokal in der Naht bildenden Zugeigenspannungen als auch der globalen infolge von Abstützeffekten auftretenden Reaktionsspannungen und -momente erzielbar. Im Rahmen zweier AiF-Forschungsvorhaben IGF.-Nr. 17267 N und 17978 N wurden verschiedene experimentelle Beanspruchungsanalysen durchgeführt, um den Schweißprozess hinsichtlich der resultierenden schweißbedingten Beanspruchungen zu untersuchen. Hierfür war es erforderlich, die Steifigkeitsverhältnisse so wie sie beim Schweißen realer Bauteilstrukturen auftreten, auf Schweißexperimente im Labor zu übertragen.
Dazu wurde bspw. eine an der BAM eigens entwickelte Prüfanlage eingesetzt, mit der die mehraxialen Belastungen analysiert wurden, die mit bis zu 2 MN beim Vorwärmen, Schweißen und Abkühlen auftreten. Die Schweißeigenspannungen wurden mittels Röntgendiffraktometrie bestimmt. Zwar zeigten sich für niedrige Arbeitstemperaturen beim Schweißen ein signifikant reduziertes Gesamtbeanspruchungsniveau nach der Abkühlung der gesamten Schweißnaht. Die langen Abkühlphasen während der mehrlagigen schweißtechnischen Fertigung führen jedoch speziell bei den ersten Schweißraupen zu sehr hohen Reaktionsspannungen. Dabei erwiesen sich schmalere Nahtfugen verbunden mit dem Einsatz modifizierter Schweißprozesse und der Einsatz dehnfähiger Schweißzusätze für das Wurzelschweißen als geeignete Mittel, um eine deutliche Absenkung des Beanspruchungsniveaus beim Schweißen unter Schrumpfbehinderung zu erreichen. Ferner ist damit eine weitere wesentliche Reduzierung der Gesamtbeanspruchung und insbesondere der Zugeigenspannungen in der WEZ möglich. Mithilfe dieser Erkenntnisse ist die Optimierung der schweißbedingten Beanspruchungen unter Nutzung einer adaptierten Wärmeführung zur verbesserten Ausnutzung des Festigkeitspotentials höherfester Feinkornbaustähle erreichbar.
In an increasing number of modern steel applications, high-strength structural steel grades are demanded to meet specifications regarding a high load-bearing capacity and a low operating weight. Lightweight design rules enhance the safety requirements, especially for welded joints. Besides a higher cracking risk for high-strength steel welds, the formation of tensile residual stresses might lead to fracture due to overloading or premature failure if not adequately considered. In this study, a stress-strain analysis was conducted at component-related structures from S960QL using digital image correlation while preheating, welding and cooling adjacent to the weld seam. X-ray diffraction analysis of the local residual stresses in the weld seam showed a good comparability with global analyses using either a DIC system or a special testing facility, which allowed in situ measurements of welding loads. By analysing two different seam geometries, it could be shown that lower multi-axial stresses arise if a narrower weld groove is used. Comparative analyses revealed a direct correlation of the local residual stresses in the weld with transverse shrinkage restraint, whereas the residual stress level in the HAZ is significantly affected by the bending restraint of the weld construction and the occurring bending stresses, respectively.
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.
Die Wasserstoffinfrastruktur ist eine zentraler Bestandteil der erfolgreichen Umsetzung der wasserstoffbasierten Energiewende. Dabei bilden Ferngasleitungen quasi das "Rückgrat" der Transportinfrastruktur großer Gasmengen. Dabei müssen unter Umständen Reparaturen an den Pipelines durchgeführt werden. Dabei ist in der Erdgasinfrastruktur das Schweißen an in Betrieb befindlichen (d.h. von Gas durchflossenen) Pipelines Stand der Technik. Es ist jedoch vollkommen offen, inwieweit diese Technik auf die reine Wasserstoffpipelines übertragbar sind. Hierzu leistet das Projekt H2SuD wichtige Beiträge zur Aufklärung des Einfluss eines Reparaturschweißprozesses auf die Wasserstoffaufnahme und Degradation im Betrieb befindlicher H2 Gasleitungen.
Next to chemical composition, metallurgy and welding parameters, the intensity of restraint is one of the variables influencing solidification cracking. Tests like the Houldcroft Test, rate the hot cracking susceptibility indirectly on the amount of restraint the welding can endure without cracking. Modern lightweight steel construction welds can be subject to a larger amount of restraint due to their high-strength nature compared to classical use cases. By varying the plate thickness of Controlled Thermal Severity (CTS) tests produced out of S1100 QL, it was possible to vary the intensity of restraint on fillet welds at a high level. Testing was conducted with four different filler wires for Metal Active Gas (MAG) welding, including three solid and one metal-cored wire. In addition, two sets of welding parameters were tested. The first set with high heat input and high welding speed was shown to be more prone to solidification cracking compared to the second set with lower heat input and welding speed. The results show an increase in solidification cracking with increasing restraint severity.
Al-Si alloys produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) techniques allow the fabrication of lightweight free-shape components that find space in aerospace, automotive, biomedical and military applications. Due to the high cooling rates occurring during the building process, L-PBF AlSi10Mg alloys exhibit an ultra-fine microstructure that leads to superior mechanical properties in the as-built condition compared to conventional cast Al-Si materials. Nevertheless, L-PBF processing induces high thermal gradients, leading to deleterious residual stress levels that must be considered to avoid part distortion and unpredicted failures. In order to relax detrimental residual stress and to increase the ductility, post-processing stress relief treatments are generally performed. In as-built condition the hypoeutectic AlSi10Mg microstructure consist of fine α-Al cells containing uniformly dispersed silicon nanoparticles, which are, in addition, surrounded by a eutectic Si network. Above 260°C the silicon interconnectivity starts to breakdown into spheroidized particles and to coarsen. At the same time, the heating residual stresses are relieved.
The objective of the contribution is to investigate, under different heat treatment conditions, the evolution of microstructure and residual stresses in view of optimizing the fatigue performance of the alloy. To this purpose various heat treatments in a range of temperatures between 265°C and 300°C for a duration between 15 minutes and 2 hours are performed. The microstructure modifications are analysed using a scanning electron microscope and the residual stress state is measured by laboratory X-ray diffraction.
The phase transformation under various cooling rates and in different HAZ regions for high-strength armour steel was analysed by dilatometry. To develop a continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram, the samples were heated up to a peak temperature of 1250 °C to achieve a coarse-grained microstructure and then cooled down with a cooling time t 8/5 varying from 3 to 240 s. Analysis of dilatation curves revealed the austenite decomposition process, during which transformation temperatures were determined. The results showed martensitic transformations for all welding-relevant cooling times. Furthermore, to analyse different heat-affected subzones of the weld, the peak temperature was varied between 550 and 1250 °C at a constant cooling time t 8/5 of 6 s. The simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) and fine-grained-heat affected zone (FGHAZ) showed only martensitic transformations with transformation temperatures below 400 °C. The steel exhibited an inhomogeneous hardness with hardening in the CGHAZ and FGHAZ and softening in the intercritical and subcritical HAZ. The physically simulated microstructure was validated by a real hybrid laser-arc weld microstructure.
MVT testing was conducted in Transvarestraint mode in multiple welding conditions and under a range of bending speeds. The materials observed were high strength filler metals used in GTAW namely DIN EN ISO 16834-A G 69 4 M21 Mn3Ni1CrMo (G69), 16834-A G 89 6 M21 Mn4Ni2CrMo (G89 6), 16834-A G 89 5 M21 Mn4Ni2,5CrMo (G89 5) and a filler wire 18276-A T 89 4 ZMn2NiCrMo M M21 1 H5 (T89). For evaluation light optical microscope pictures were used. Pixels containing cracks were manually segmented using a self-written program. Out of the segmented images data including crack length, position and area can be calculated for every crack. The results show dependencies of solidification cracking on the test parameters.
For higher operational temperatures and pressures required in petrochemical plants, the modified 13CrMoV9-10 steel was developed providing high resistance against creep and compressed hydrogen. Extreme care during the welding procedure is necessary for this steel, attributed to low toughness, high strength in as-welded state, and increased susceptibility to stress relief cracking (SRC) during post-weld heat treatment (PWHT). Previous research of SRC in creep-resistant steels discussed mainly thermal and metallurgical factors. Few previous findings addressed the influences of welding procedure on crack formation during PWHT considering real-life manufacturing conditions. These investigations focus on effects of welding heat control on stresses during welding and subsequent PWHT operations close to realistic restraint and heat dissipation conditions using a special 3D testing facility, which was presented in parts I and II of this contribution. Part III addresses investigations on residual stress evolution affecting crack formation and discusses the transferability of results from large-scale testing to laboratory-scale. Experiments with test set-ups at different scales under diverse rigidity conditions and an assessment of the residual stresses of the weld-specimens using X-ray (surface near) and neutron diffraction analysis (bulk) were performed. This study aims to provide a way of investigating the SRC behaviour considering component-specific residual stresses via small-scale testing concepts instead of expensive weld mock-ups.
Welding of 13CrMoV9-10 vanadium steel requires care due to an increased susceptibility to stress relief cracking during post weld heat treatment. Previous research into the crack formation in creep-resistant steels has focused on thermal and metallurgical factors; however, little knowledge has been gathered regarding the crack formation during post weld heat treatment considering real-life restraint conditions. This work is subdivided in two parts. Part I showed that an increasing heat input during submerged arc welding under restraint led to an increasing stress level in the joint prior to the post weld heat treatment. The magnitude of stress relief cracking observed in the heat-affected zone after the post weld heat treatment is affected by the heat input. In Part II of this work, the cracks and the associated microstructure which occurred under restraint were studied. The application of a Special acoustic emission analysis indicated that the cracks formed in a temperature range between 300 and 500 °C during the post weld heat treatment. The toughness in the heat-affected zone of the restrained welds was affected by the welding heat input.
Microstructural analyses of all specimens revealed accelerated aging due to precipitation of carbides during post weld heat treatment under restraint.
The avoidance of failures during the fabrication or operation of petrochemical reactors made of creep-resistant, low-alloy steels as 13CrMoV9-10 requires still research despite over 60 years of international investigations in the field of stress relief cracking. The quality of modern base materials and filler metals leads to the fact that previously known crack causes, such as impurities of S or P, recede into the background. Rather, the causes are increasingly to be found in the fabrication process. Investigations on the influence of heat control on the stresses in welded components and thus on the stress relief cracking sensitivity under realistic manufacturing conditions are not yet available. This work is subdivided in two parts. Part 1 of this study focused on the effect of heat control during submerged arc welding on the stresses. For this purpose, a testing facility was applied, which allows to observe the forces and moments accumulating during welding or heat treatment in a component-like specimen under shrinkage restraint. The stress acting in the specimen increases with higher preheat/interpass temperatures and higher heat input. During the heat treatment, the stresses are relieved. Nevertheless, cracks are formed already during heating. The total crack length correlates with the heat input.