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Offshore wind turbines (OWT) are a major goal of the energy strategy of Germany encompassing the increase of the installed wind power. OWT components are manufactured from welded steel plates with thicknesses up to 200 mm. The underlying standards and technical recommendations for construction of OWTs encompass specifications of so-called minimum waiting time (MWT) before non-destructive testing of the weld joints is allowed. Reason is the increased risk of time-delayed hydrogen assisted cold cracking as hydrogen diffusion is very slow due to the very thick plates. The strict consideration of those long MWT up to 48 h during the construction of OWTs leads to significant financial burden (like disproportionately high costs for installer ships as well as storage problems (onshore)). In this study, weld joints made of S355 ML were examined in comparison with the offshore steel grade S460 G2+M. The aim was to optimize, i.e., reduce, the MWT before NDT considering varied heat input, hydrogen concentration and using self-restraint weld tests. This would significantly reduce the manufacturing time and costs of OWT construction. To quantify the necessary delay time until hydrogen-assisted cold cracks appear, acoustic emission analysis was applied directly after welding for at least 48 h.
Schadensfälle in den letzten zehn Jahren mit teilweise katastrophalen Folgen belegen, dass der Vermeidung von Rissen beim Schweißen von Rohrleitungen besondere Aufmerksamkeit zu schenken ist. In der Analyse solcher Schäden ist zu unterscheiden, ob die Risse bereits während oder kurz nach der schweißtechnischen Fertigung der Rohrkomponenten oder während des anschließenden Betriebes entstanden sind. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird sich vor allem auf die Vermeidung einer Heiß- und Kaltrissbildung beim Schweißen von Rohrleitungen konzentriert und es werden weitere Forschungsperspektiven abgeleitet.
Martensitic 9% Cr steels like P91 and P92 show susceptibility to delayed hydrogen assisted cracking depending on their microstructure. In that connection, effective hydrogen diffusion coefficients are used to assess the possible time-delay. Limited data on room temperature diffusion coefficients reported in literature vary widely by several orders of magnitude (mostly attributed to variation in microstructure). Especially P91 weld metal diffusion coefficients are rare so far. For that reason, electrochemical permeation experiments had been conducted using P92 base metal and P91 weld metal (in as-welded and heat-treated condition) with different thicknesses. From the results obtained, diffusion coefficients were calculated using to different methods, time-lag, and inflection point. Results show that, despite microstructural effects, the sample thickness must be considered as it influences the calculated diffusion coefficients. Finally, the comparison of calculated and measured hydrogen concentrations (determined by carrier gas hot extraction) enables the identification of realistic diffusion coefficients.
Residual stresses are often the cause for cracks in weld constructions. That is why the residual stress level, induced by manufacturing process, plays a crucial role. The present study aims on the effect of multiple repair weld procedures on a high-strength structural steel S690QL. The widespread technology of carbon arc-air gouging was applied. The weld zone and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) were subjected to multiple thermal cycles by gouging and subsequent repair welding. The investigations were focused on the change of the residuals stresses, the impact on the microstructure and the changes for the mechanical properties of the repair welded joint. The residual stresses were determined by X-ray diffraction. The results have shown a significant dependence for the residual stress levels from the repair cycle. In addition, distinctive changes in microstructures and hence mechanical properties occurred. The fusion line of the repair weld and the adjacent HAZ are the most critical areas. This is where the loss of ductility is most pronounced.
Modern methods like carrier gas hot extraction enable the quantification of dissolved hydrogen as well as the determination of the hydrogen trapping and diffusion behavior. This method was applied in order to compare for the first time the hydrogen diffusion and trapping behavior in electrochemically charged and welded duplex stainless steel (1.4462). Characteristic extraction temperatures (400, 650, and 900 °C) were used to quantify the amounts of diffusible hydrogen and trapped hydrogen for the base material and the weld metal, and in order to calculate the effective diffusion coefficients corresponding to the specific temperature. The comparison of the charging methods showed that electrochemically charged samples have a higher content of diffusible hydrogen than the welded samples. In addition, the effusion times increase in welded samples, which indicate a higher amount of trapped hydrogen. In electrochemically charged weld samples, a significant lower concentration of hydrogen was determined than in the base material. In addition, the effective diffusion coefficients were calculated for every microstructure and charging method. It was found that the base material has a higher effective hydrogen diffusion coefficient than that of the weld metal. This effect is due to the tortuous path of hydrogen diffusion in the weld metal.
Industry faces a growing demand for high-strength structural steels with yield strengths of up to 1,300 MPa in order to cope with increasingly higher strength requirements in engineering. Higher strength levels are achieved by a special coordinated production process and an adapted chemical composition. Nevertheless, disastrous damage cases with high-strength steels have occurred in the past. The sensitivity to mechanical property degradation by hydrogen increases dramatically with strength. This phenomenon leads to hydrogen-assisted cold cracking. T-joints with fillet welds made from one side with an included angle of 60° were examined for their cold cracking behavior. Based on the T-joint, a modified heat input, even interpass temperature, plate thickness, and length ones were examined. The diffusion behavior and the effectiveness of different post-weld heat treatments in joints were simulated. The results of post-weld heat treatments are illustrated in practical hydrogen removal heat treatment diagrams. It is noticed that the T-joint is subject to a very high risk of hydrogen-assisted cold cracking (HACC). Contrary to other joints, its most critical area for cracking is not the weld metal but the heat-affected zone surrounding area of the root pass. The simulation shows that HACC in the T-joint can only be avoided by applying a sufficient post-weld heat treatment.
Quite a number of numerical models for hydrogen-assisted cracking in different kind of steels are existing reaching from simple analytical models to more complex two- and three-dimensional finite element simulations. These numerical models have been used to simulate the processes of hydrogen-assisted cracking in homogeneous microstructure. This paper contributes to numerical simulation of hydrogen-assisted cracking in heterogeneous microstructure, e.g., in a duplex stainless steel microstructure consisting of two phase fractions. If hydrogen is absorbed during welding or during service, i.e., due to cathodic protection, hydrogen is leading to material embrittlement and leads to hydrogen-assisted cracking. In order to improve understanding of the mechanisms of hydrogen-assisted cracking in duplex stainless steels, a numerical model has been created that operates at the mesoscale and enables simulation of stress–strain distribution as well as cracking in the various phases of a metallic material. Stress–strain distribution and hydrogen-assisted cracking in the duplex stainless steel 1.4462, consisting of approximately equal portions of ferrite and austenite, was simulated using the finite element program ANSYS. It was shown by numerical simulation that higher local stresses and strains are present at ferrite and austenite than the global stresses and strains in the duplex stainless steel, while the highest plastic deformations occur at austenite and the highest stresses can be found in small ferrite bars surrounded by ductile austenitic islands. By analyzing the stress–strain distribution in the duplex microstructure, crack critical areas in the ferrite can be identified. Hydrogen-assisted cracking was modeled assuming high hydrogen concentrations and regarding the local mechanical load in each phase of the duplex stainless steel. The mesoscale model qualitatively reflects the crack initiation and propagation process in the ferritic and austenitic phase of the duplex stainless steel.
Multiple principal element alloys encompass the well-known high entropy alloys (HEA). The alloy system represents a new class of materials consisting of at least three alloying elements, each containing 5 to 35 at.%. Thus, this alloying concept differs fundamentally from conventional materials such as steel or nickel alloys. For this purpose, the alloying elements are specifically selected, the microstructures are adjusted in a single-phase and, in some cases, multi-phase manner. In particular, conflicting goals, such as the trade-off between strength and ductility in conventional steels, are overcome. However, in the last 20 years, the focus has been on material synthesis. With the increase in available material quantities, the focus is now on processing issues such as joining and welding processes. The weldability of HEAs has received very little attention so far. The experience with dissimilar metal welds is completely lacking but is essential for the application of these materials in combination with conventional materials. The present study presents comprehensive experimental results on the weldability of an equimolar CoCrFeMnNi-HEA in cold-rolled and heat-treated condition, which was joined by tungsten inert gas welding to an austenitic steel AISI 304. The mechanical properties of the dissimilar metal welds were characterized by cross-weld tensile samples, whereas the local deformation in the weld of the different welding zones was measured by digital image correlation. In accordance with the respective initial HEA condition (cold-rolled vs. heat-treated), the local strain behavior was divergent and influenced the global mechanical properties of both DMW types. Nonetheless, the experiments provided proof in principle of the weldability for dissimilar joints of the CoCrFeMnNi-HEA welded to conventional materials like austenitic stainless steels ensuring a corresponding capability for mechanical loading. This allows further considerations on the application of these innovative materials.
Quite a number of models for hydrogen distribution in steels and welds have been developed in the past 20 years. They reach from simple analytical models to more complex two and three dimensional finite element simulations. So far, these models have been used to simulate hydrogen distribution in homogeneous microstructure. This paper contributes to numerical simulation of hydrogen distribution in heterogeneous microstructure, e. g. in a duplex stainless steel microstructure consisting of two phase fractions. Under appropriate conditions, such as cathodic protection, it is possible that hydrogen is absorbed leading to material embrittlement and possibly initiating hydrogen assisted cracking. In order to avoid hydrogen assisted cracking in duplex stainless steels, it is of great interest to know more about the diffusion behavior of the ferrite and austenite phase. A numerical model has been developed that operates on the mesoscale and enables simulation of hydrogen transport in the various phases of a metallic material. As a first application of this model, hydrogen distribution in a duplex stainless steel 1.4462, consisting of approximately equal portions of ferrite and austenite, was simulated using the finite element program package ANSYS. The results reflect the dependency of hydrogen distribution on the microstructural alignment of the ferrite and austenite phase fractions. Crack-critical areas can thus be identified, provided the critical strain-hydrogen combination is known for the respective microstructural phase.
Carbon arc-air gouging is a common technology when repairing defects in welded structures. Often this technique is applied in repeated cycles even on the same location of the joint. Due to the multiple heat input by gouging and subsequent re-welding, the residual stresses are strongly influenced. This can become crucial when microstructure and mechanical properties are adversely affected by multiple weld reparations. Knowledge about the relation of gouging and residual stresses is scarce but important when high strength steels, which are sensitive to residual stresses, are processed. The present study shows the effect of repair welding on a high strength steel structural element. The weld and the heat affected zone were subjected to multiple thermal cycles by gouging and subsequent repair welding. The residual stresses were determined by X-ray diffraction at different positions along the joint. The results showed that the residual stress level has increased by the repair cycles. This is most pronounced for the heat affected zone. Adapted welding procedures may prevent detrimental residual stress distributions.