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Various test methods are available for assessing the susceptibility of materials to solidification cracking during welding. In the widely used Varestraint test, the crack length is selected as a criterion as a function of the applied bending strain.
Unfortunately, the crack length does not characterize the material behavior alone but depends to varying degrees on the individual test parameters used, which makes the interpretation of the results difficult. In addition, the crack length is not comparable under different test conditions. To overcome these disadvantages, we have developed a novel evaluation methodology that decouples the machine influence from the material behavior. The measured crack length is related to the maximum possible value specified by welding speed and deformation time. This relative crack length is calculated numerically, considering the orientation of the cracks. Experiments on two high-alloy martensitic welding consumables show that, in contrast to the conventional evaluation, a comparison of different welding parameters becomes possible. Furthermore, the strain rate proved to be a suitable crack criterion in agreement with Prokhorov's hot cracking model.
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.
Solidification cracking of metals is a well-researched topic in the field of welding science. A material’s susceptibility to solidification cracking can be tested using numerous different specialized test procedures, one of which is the Modified Varestraint-/Transvarestraint test (MVT). It was developed at BAM in 1982 and is internationally standardised. Over the decades, this test has been extensively used to characterise the solidification cracking resistance of many different materials.
The present study was conducted to further investigate the influences of the standardised MVT testing parameters, as well as the characteristics of evaluation methods on the results. Several different high alloyed martensitic LTT (low transformation temperature) filler materials, CrNi and CrMn type, were used. In previous pilot studies, these alloys have shown a rather distinctive solidification cracking behaviour. During testing, energy input per unit length and bending speed were varied (especially the latter is usually kept at standard values), in addition to the most commonly altered factor - total deformation.
First, the effects of different process parameter sets on the solidification cracking response were measured using the standard approach - microscopic analysis of the specimen surface. It was found that not all parameter changes had the expected outcome. For the Cr8Ni6 and Cr11Mn5 filler materials, influences of energy input per unit length and welding speed were in direct opposition.
In order to investigate those apparent contradictions, μCT scans of MVT specimens were made. The results consistently show sub surface cracking, to significant, yet varying extents. Different primary solidification types were found using WDX-analysis, an aspect that is believed to be the main difference between the CrNi- and CrMn-type materials and their cracking characteristics.
Results show that when it comes to testing of modern high-performance alloys, one set of standard MVT 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.
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.