Open Access

The paper provides an application of the IBESS approach to the investigation of the influence of various parameters of the global and local weld geometry as well as material defects on the fatigue strength of weldments. For this purpose, the global weld parameters, such as the weld toe radius, the flank angle, the excess weld metal, local secondary notches (in the present study as a measure of surface imperfections) and inclusions sizes have been determined as statistical distributions for different joint types and geometries and two steels of different strengths. The results are in line with literature data and reveal the potential of the theoretical approach to predict the correct trends. The combination with an advanced weld quality system has been demonstrated to be possible.

The acronym IBESS stands for "Integrale Bruchmechanische Ermittlung der Schwingfestigkeit von Schweißverbindungen" which, translated from German, means "integral fracture mechanics determination of the fatigue strength of welds". the method introduced in this study is the outcome of a German Research cluster in which eight partners were involved. A list of them is found at the end this study. The IBESS method is characterized by a number of partially novel aspects and elements of fracture mechanics applied to the evaluation of fatigue stength of welds. The most important ones are: (a) Determination of fatigue crack propagation for mechanically/physically short and long cracks. (b) Determination of an elastic-plastic crack driving force for the treatment of mechanically short cracks. To that purpose an analytical expression for the cyclic J-integral was developed and validated against finite element results. (c) The gradual build-up of the crack closure phenomenon is determined by using cyclic R-curves which describe the crack size dependency of the fatigue crack propagation threshold in the physically short crack growth regime. (d) A physically meaningful initial crack size is defined for total life consideration. It is based on a two-criteria approach. Based on a cyclic R-curve analysis, the crack size at crack arrest is determined as a lower bound. If, however, a pre-existing crack-like defect is larger than this, its dimensions define the initial crack size. (e) Multiple crack propagation at the weld toe is considered. (f) In conjunction with this, the variation of the weld toe geometry is considered in a stochastic model. (g) As a result, both the fatigue limit (defined for 107 loading cycles) and the finite life (high cycle) fatigue S-N curve are obtained statistically. (h) At various analysis steps, parametric equations have been developed which allow for analytical calculations instead of complete stochastic analyses based on finite elements which are unrealistic even at present. (i) The method has been validated with a large number of S-N curves including two materials, three weldment types with two geometries, each referring to differnt manufacturing technologies and the as-welded and stressrelieved state. (j) Althrough not finally solved, an extended discussion is provided on the issue of welding residual stresses including their redistribution under cyclic loading. (k) A number of simplifications is proposed at lower analyses levels which, however, partly lack complete validation by now.

The use of low transformation temperature (LTT) filler materials represents a smart approach for increasing the fatigue strength of welded high strength steel structures apart from the usual procedures of post weld treatment. The main mechanism is based on the effect of the low start temperature of martensite formation on the stress already present during welding. Thus, compressive residual stress formed due to constrained volume expansion in connection with phase transformation become highly effective. Furthermore, the weld metal has a high hardness that can delay the formation of fatigue cracks but also leads to low toughness. Fundamental investigations on the weldability of an LTT filler material are presented in this work, including the characterization of the weld microstructure, its hardness, phase transformation temperature and mechanical properties. Special attention was applied to avoid imperfections in order to ensure a high weld quality for subsequent fatigue testing. Fatigue tests were conducted on the welded joints of the base materials S355J2 and S960QL using conventional filler materials as a comparison to the LTT filler. Butt joints were used with a variation in the weld type (DY-weld and V-weld). In addition, a component-like specimen (longitudinal stiffener) was investigated where the LTT filler material was applied as an additional layer. The joints were characterized with respect to residual stress, its stability during cyclic loading and microstructure. The results show that the application of LTT consumables leads to a significant increase in fatigue strength when basic design guidelines are followed. This enables a benefit from the lightweight design potential of high-strength steel grades.

Hochfeste Feinkornbaustähle verfügen über großes Potenzial für gewichtsoptimierte, effiziente Strukturen in vielen modernen Stahlkonstruktion. Weitere Effizienzsteigerungen können durch additives Fertigen sowie bionische Bauweisen erreicht werden. Hochfeste Zusatzwerkstoffe für additives MSG-Schweißen (engl.: Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing, WAAM) sind bereits von den Schweißzusatzherstellern lieferbar. Eine breite industrielle Anwendung insbesondere für KMU ist aufgrund fehlender quantitativer Erkenntnisse und Richtlinien bezüglich schweißbedingter Beanspruchungen und Bauteilsicherheit während der Herstellung und des Betriebs derzeit stark limitiert. In einem gemeinsamen Forschungsprojekt (FOSTA-P1380/IGF21162BG) der BAM und der TU Chemnitz werden daher die mit Eigenspannungsausbildung und der Gefahr einer Kaltrissbildung verbundenen prozess- und werkstoffbedingten sowie konstruktiven Einflüsse beim WAAM hochfester Stähle untersucht. Der vorliegende Beitrag fokussiert die Analyse der Auswirkungen von Schweißwärmeführung und Design der WAAM-Bauteile auf die Abkühlbedingungen, Gefüge, mechanisch-technologischen Eigenschaften und Eigenspannungen. Hierfür werden geometrisch definierte Probenkörper (Hohlquader) vollautomatisiert mit einem speziellen, hochfesten WAAM-Massivdraht (Streckgrenze >790 MPa) geschweißt. Die Wärmeführung und Probenabmessungen werden innerhalb eines statistischen Versuchsplans variiert. Die Schweißwärmeführung wird dabei so eingestellt, dass die t8/5-Abkühlzeiten im empfohlenen Verarbeitungsbereich (ca. 5 s bis 20 s) sichergestellt sind. Hierzu ließen sich über zusätzliche thermo-physikalische Umformsimulationen mittels Dilatometer die komplexen Wärmezyklen abbilden und die resultierende Zugfestigkeit des Schweißgutes bestimmen. Das WAAM-Schweißen komplexer Geometrien mit variierenden Schweißwärmeführungen und geometrischen Verhältnissen bzw. Wanddicken bedingt neben den Auswirkungen auf die Abkühlbedingungen, Abkühlzeiten und Gefüge deutliche Einflüsse auf die konstruktiven Steifigkeitsverhältnisse beim Schweißen. Es zeigen sich anhand der Schweißexperimente signifikante Auswirkungen durch Probenskalierung und Wärmeeinbringung auf die resultierenden lokalen Eigenspannungen. Die Folge können ungünstige Bauteileigenschaften und risskritische Zugeigenspannungen sein.

Commercial high-strength fller metals for wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) are already available. However, widespread industrial use is currently limited due to a lack of quantitative knowledge and guidelines regarding welding stresses and component safety during manufacture and operation for WAAM structures. In a joint research project, the process- and material-related as well as design infuences associated with residual stress formation and the risk of cold cracking are being investigated. For this purpose, reference specimens are welded fully automated with defned dimensions and systematic variation of heat control using a special, high-strength WAAM fller metal (yield strength>790 MPa). Heat control is varied by means of heat input (200–650 kJ/m) and interlayer temperature (100–300 °C). The ∆t8/5 cooling times correspond with the recommendations of fller metal producers (approx. 5–20 s). For this purpose, additional thermo-physical forming simulations using a dilatometer allowed the complex heat cycles to be reproduced and the resulting ultimate tensile strength of the weld metal to be determined. Welding parameters and AM geometry are correlated with the resulting microstructure, hardness, and residual stress state. High heat input leads to a lower tensile stress in the component and may cause unfavorable microstructure and mechanical properties. However, a sufciently low interlayer temperature is likely to be suitable for obtaining adequate properties at a reduced tensile stress level when welding with high heat input. The component design afects heat dissipation conditions and the intensity of restraint during welding and has a signifcant infuence on the residual stress. These complex interactions are analyzed within this investigation. The aim is to provide easily applicable processing recommendations and standard specifcations for an economical, appropriate, and crack-safe WAAM of high-strength steels.