An innovative joint interface design for reducing intermetallic compounds and improving joint strength of thick plate friction stir welded Al/Mg joints

Friction stir welding of dissimilar Al/Mg thick plates still faces severe challenges, such as poor formability, formation of thick intermetallic compounds, and low joint strength. In this work, two joint configurations, namely inclined butt(conventional butt) and serrated interlocking(innovative butt), are proposed for improving weld formation and joint quality. The results show that a continuous and straight intermetallic compound layer appears at the Mg side interface in conventional butt joint, and the maximum average thickness reaches about 60.1 μm.Additionally, the Mg side interface also partially melts, forming a eutectic structure composed of Mg solid solution and Al_(12)Mg_(17) phase.For the innovative butt joint, the Mg side interface presents the curved interlocking feature, and intermetallic compounds can be reduced to less than 10 μm. The joint strength of innovative butt joint is more than three times that of conventional butt joint. This is due to the interlocking effect and thin intermetallic compounds in the innovative joint.

Comparison study on measurement of rail weld joint between inertial reference method and multi-point chord reference method

Purpose – Straightness measurement of rail weld joint is of essential importance to railway maintenance. Dueto the lack of efficient measurement equipment, there has been limited in-depth research on rail weld joint with a5-m wavelength range, leaving a significant knowledge gap in this field.Design/methodology/approach – In this study, the authors used the well-established inertial referencemethod (IR-method), and the state-of-the-art multi-point chord reference method (MCR-method). Two methodshave been applied in different types of rail straightness measurement trollies, respectively. These instrumentswere tested in a high-speed rail section within a certain region of China. The test results were ultimatelyvalidated through using traditional straightedge and feeler gauge methods as reference data to evaluate the railweld joint straightness within the 5-m wavelength range.Findings – The research reveals that IR-method and MCR-method produce reasonably similar measurementresults for wavelengths below 1 m. However, MCR-method outperforms IR-method in terms of accuracy forwavelengths exceeding 3 m. Furthermore, it was observed that IR-method, while operating at a slower speed,carries the risk of derailing and is incapable of detecting rail weld joints and low joints within the track.Originality/value – The research compare two methods’ measurement effects in a longer wavelength rangeand demonstrate the superiority of MCR-method.

Comprehensive study of microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 5182-O/HC260YD+Z lap joint

The welding of aluminum(Al)and steel has attracted more and more interest due to the weight reduction trend in vehicle and aerospace manufacturing industries.5182-O/HC260YD+Z lap joint was produced by friction stir welding(FSW),and the microstructure and mechanical property of the joint were systemically characterized.The microstructure in horizontal direction of the Al and steel near interface was similar to their corresponding conventional friction stir welded joint.The joint was divided into stir zone of Al(ST-Al),stir zone of interface(ST-I),thermal-mechanically affected zone of steel(TMAZ-Fe)and base material of steel(BM-Fe)according to their distinct microstructure vertically.Three kinds of intermetallic compounds(IMCs)of FeAl_(3),FeAl and Fe_(3)Al were formed at the interface.The horizontal micro hardness distribution exhibited a hat shape and“M”shape in Al and steel,respectively.The hardest region of the joint was located at the ST-I,with a hardness of 175 HV−210 HV.The joint was fractured along the hook structure,with an average shear strength of 73.9 MPa.Fractural morphology of Al and steel indicted a cleavage fracture mode.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study on the corrosion of the weld zone of 3Cr steel welded joints in CO_2 environments

The welded joints of 3Cr pipeline steel were fabricated with commercial welding wire using the gas tungsten arc welding （GTAW） technique. Potentiodynamic polarization curves, linear polarization resistance （LPR）, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）, scan- ning electron microscopy （SEM）, and energy-dispersive spectrometry （EDS） were used to investigate the corrosion resistance and the growth of a corrosion film on the weld zone （WZ）. The changes in electrochemical characteristics of the film were obtained through fitting of the EIS data. The results showed that the average corrosion rate of the WZ in CO2 environments first increased, then fluctuated, and finally de- creased gradually. The formation of the film on the WZ was divided into three stages： dynamic adsorption, incomplete-coverage layer forma- tion, and integral layer formation.

The microscopic mechanical performance for nonuniform welded joint of nickel-based alloy with nanoindentation

To quantify the nonuniform micromechanical performance of welded joint,the load-displacement curves by nanoindentation test were introduced to examine different zones including base metal,coarse grained heat affected zone,partially melted zone,weld metal near the fusion boundary and weld metal center.The results showed that the strengthening effect of weld metal was more obvious than that of heat affected zone for nickel based welded joint and especially in coarse grained heat affected zone,the hardening resulted from overheating was not apparent.Nickel based weld metal with high content of alloying elements which were often segregated at interdendritic regions or precipitated in grain interior under nonequilibrium solidification contributed to the characteristics that differ from conventional low alloy steel welded joint.

Improving the fatigue property of welded joints for AZ31 magnesium alloy by ultrasonic peening treatment

The fatigue property of AZ31 magnesium alloy and its TIG welded joints were investigated. The ultrasonic peening treatment （UPT） was used to improve the fatigue property of the TIG welded joints, which was treated at the weld toe by the UPT process. The test results show that the fatigue strength of the base metal of AZ31 magnesium alloys is 57.8 MPa, and those of the fillet joint and the transverse cross joint are respectively 20. 0 MPa and 17.2 MPa at 2 × 10^6 cycles. The fatigue strengths of two kinds of welded joints treated by the UPT are respectively 30. 3 MPa and 24. 7 MPa, which have been improved by 51.5% and 43.6%, respectively. The fatigue life of the fillet joint specimens is prolonged by about 2. 74 times and the fatigue life of the transverse cross joint specimens is prolonged by about 1.05 times when the stress range is at 40. 0 MPa.

EFFECT OF MEAN STRESS ON FATIGUE PERFORMANCE OF WELDED JOINTS TREATED BY UPT

The fatigue contrast tests of unload longitudinal direction comer joints asoriginal welded and treated by ultrasonic peening of Q235B in various stress ratio are directed. Theimprovements of fatigue performance of unload longitudinal direction corner joints resulted byultrasonic peening are studied. The effect pattern of stress ratio on fatigue performance of weldedjoints that are treated by ultrasonic peening is studied. As tests results indicate that: ① In thecondition of stress ratio .R=-l, the fatigue strength 'of specimen treated by ultrasonic peening isincreased by 165 percent of that of the original welded specimen. And the fatigue life of specimentreated by ultrasonic peening is as much as 75 approx 210 times of that of the latter. When R=0.1,the fatigue strength is increased by 87 percent and the fatigue life is extended by 21 approx 29times. When R=-0.5, the fatigue strength is increased by 123 percent and the fatigue life isextended by 42 approx 59 times. When R=0.45, the fatigue strength is increased by 51 percent and thefatigue life is extended by 3 approx 14 times. ② If the welded joints are treated by ultrasonicpeening, the fatigue strength is no longer independent on the applied mean stress. The more thestress ratio R, the less the fatigue stress range which can be sustained by the joints is. ③Whether the high value residual stress is in the joints or not, the dead load portion of the appliedload must be considered in the design of the joints which should be treated by ultrasonic peening.

Microstructures of 2219 twin wire welded joints

With thick plates of 2219 high-strength alloy, the microstructures of welded joints with twin wire MIG welding were analyzed. Experimental results show that no hot crack was found in the weld due to discontinuous distribution of cocrystallization with low melting temperature, but porosity is serious in the first weld seam that is mainly composed of equiaxial grains with uneven sizes. As the poor position of the whole welded joint, fusion zone has big and coarse grains, uneven microstructures ; In quenching zone, there exist a lot of soaked microstructures that cocrystallizntion with low melting temperature solute into matrix, thus strengthening the metal in this zone; In excessive aging zone, much more phases that distribute evenly will be separated from the matrix; Ontside this zone, properties and microstructures of the metal are basically similar to matrix due to the relatively low temperature or unaffected heat in the zone during welding.

Effects of laser heat treatment on the fracture morphologies of X80 pipeline steel welded joints by stress corrosion

The surfaces of X80 pipeline steel welded joints were processed with a CO2 laser, and the effects of laser heat treatment （LHT） on H2S stress corrosion in the National Association of Corrosion Engineers （NACE） solution were analyzed by a slow strain rate test. The fracture morphologies and chemical components of corrosive products before and after LHT were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, respectively, and the mechanism of LHT on stress corrosion cracking was discussed. Results showed that the fracture for welded joints was brittle in its original state, while it was transformed to a ductile fracture after LHT. The tendencies of hydrogen-induced corrosion were reduced, and the stress corrosion sensitivity index decreased from 35.2% to 25.3%, indicating that the stress corrosion resistance of X80 pipeline steel welded joints has been improved by LHT.

An investigation on the performance of stress corrosion cracking in aluminum-copper alloy welded joint

With the resistance to stress corrosion of the base metal as a reference, the contrast result of stress corrosion cracking （ SCC） susceptibility of aluminum-copper alloy 2219 and 2014 welded joints under different welding processes （ VP-TIG welding, HF-TIG hybrid welding, laser-TIG hybrid welding and laser HF-TIG hybrid welding） is obtained via the slow strain rate testing （ SSRT） , scanning electron microscope （ SEM） and microstructure observation auxiliary technologies. Test results show that the joints of aluminum alloy 2219, welded by hybrid welding processes, have superior resistance to stress corrosion compared to those welded by the VP-TIG welding process in varying degrees, especially, the joint welded by the laser HF-TIG hybrid welding process, where the resistance to stress corrosion is almost the same as that of the base material. However, the HF or laser hybrid welding effect is not significant under the same welding conditions for welded joints of aluminum alloy 2014.

Changing Rule of Carbon-Enriched Zone and Diffusion Behavior of Carbon in Aging 0Cr6Mn13Ni10MoTi/1Cr5Mo Dissimilar Welded Joints

The microstructures, the changing rule of carbon-enriched zone, the diffusion behaviors of elements C and Cr, and thecarbide type of 0Cr6Mn13Ni10MoTi/1Cr5Mo dissimilar welded joints after aging at 500℃ for various times and afterlong-term service in technical practice were investigated by using the optical microscopy electron probe microanalysis,scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that in aging0Cr6Mn13Ni10MoTi/1Cr5Mo dissimilar welded joints, the main carbides are M_3C and a few carbides are M_7C_3 andM_(23)C_6. The M_3C carbide decomposition and dissolution with increasing aging time or aging temperature and theanti-diffusion of C and Cr cause the decrease and disappearance of the carbon-enriched zone. The results are differentfrom those of the A302/1Cr5Mo dissimilar welded joints in previous studies.

EFFECT OF CARBON MIGRATION ON CREEP PROPERTIES OF Cr5Mo DISSIMILAR WELDED JOINTS WITH Ni-BASED AND AUSTENITIC WELD METAL

In this paper, the effect of carbon migration on creep properties of Cr5Mo dissimilar welded joints with Ni-based (Inconel 182) and Cr23Nil3 (A302) austenitic weld metal was investigated. Carbon migration near the weld metal/ferritic steel interface of Cr5Mo dissimilar welded joints was analyzed by aging method. Local creep deformations of the dissimilar welded joints were measured by a long-term local creep deformation measuring technique. The creep rupture testing was performed for Cr5Mo dissimilar welded joints with Inconel 182 and A302 weld metal. The research results show that the maximum creep strain rate occurs in the decarburized zone located on heat affect zone (HAZ) of Cr5Mo ferritic steel. The creep rupture life of Cr5Mo dissimilar welded joints with A 302 weld metal decreases due to carbon migration and is about 50% of that welded with Inconel 182 weld metal.

Investigation on LCF Behavior of Welded Joint at Di erent Temperatures for Bainite Steel

The current research of low cycle fatigue(LCF) is mainly focused on the components with uniform microstructure.Compared with these typical components, LCF behavior of welded components are more complex due to their great gradient microstructure, especially for di erent temperature. In this paper, LCF properties were conducted on the welded joint at di erent temperatures for bainite steel, and the failure mechanism was systematically discussed.Fatigue parameters derived from fitting curves indicated that welded joint had worse plastic deformation resistance and experienced more significantly strain hardening e ect at 300 °C. The joint failed in the weld metal at room temperature, which attributed to the softening in weld metal combined with cyclic strain hardening e ect in heata ected zone, which meant the joint was more sensitive with the hardness at this condition. When it came to 300 °C,more cracks appeared near to HAZ and the heterogeneous distributed surface inclusion was responsible for the fracture transition to HAZ adjacent to bainite steel rather than the softest zone in HAZ, reflecting the joint was more sensitive with the surface inclusion at 300 °C. This research could support the design on loading of welded component at di erent temperature, and further ensure the safe operation.

New Developed Welding Electrode for Improving the Fatigue Strength of Welded Joints

A new welding electrode, low transformation temperature electrode (LTTE), was introduced in this paper. It was described in design principle, mechanics, chemical compositions of their deposited metal and manufacturing methods. It was proved that the best transformation starting temperature from austenite to martensite of the deposited metal of LTTE was at about 191℃ and it was obtained by adding alloying elements such as Cr, Ni, Mn and Mo. The microstructure of the weld metal of the LTTE was low carbon martensite and residual austenite. The compressive residual stress was induced around the weld of the LTTE and the -145 MPa in compression could be obtained in middle of weld metal. The fatigue tests showed that the fatigue strength of the longitudinal welded joints welded with the LTTE at 2×106 cycles was improved by 59% compared with that of the same type of welded joints welded with conventional E5015 and the fatigue life was increased by 47 times at 162 MPa. It is a very valuable method to improve the fatigue performance of welded joints.

Research on the creep damage and interfacial failure of dissimilar metal welded joint between 10Cr9Mo1VNbN and 12Cr1MoV steel

The mechanical properties, creep damage, creep rupture strength and features of interfacial failures of welded joints between martensite (SA213T91) and pearlite steel (12Cr1MoV) have been investigated by means of argon tungsten pulsed arc welding, high temperature accelerated simulation, creep rupture, mechanical property tests and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The research results indicate that the mechanical properties of overmatched and medium matched joint deteriorate obviously, and they are susceptible to creep damage and failure after accelerated simulation operation 500 h, in the condition of preheat 250℃, and post welding heat treatment 750℃×1 h. However, the mechanical properties of undermatched joint are the best, the interfacial failure tendency of undermatched welded joint is less than those of medium and overmatched welded joint. Therefore, it is reasonable that low alloy material TR31 is used as the filler metal of weld between SA213T91and 12Cr1MoV steel.

Effect of Scandium on Corrosion Resistance of Welded Joint ofAl-6Mg-Zr Alloy

The corrosion resistance of welded joints of Al-6Mg-Sc-Zr alloy was studied by neutral salt spray and exfoliation corrosion methods. The microstructure of welded joints was investigated by using optical microscope and transmission electron micrograph (TEM). It is demonstrated that the welded joints of Al-6Mg-Sc-Zr alloy are more corrosion resistance, comparing with Al-6Mg-Zr alloy. The addition of scandium in the alloy results in (Al_3Sc, Zr) particles, potently refined grains and restrained recrystallization process. The formation of homogeneous, discontinuous distribution of β-phase in welded joints improves the corrosion resistance of welded joints of Al-Mg-Zr alloy with high level content of magnesium.

Corrosion behavior of the friction-stir-welded joints of 2A14-T6 aluminum alloy

The corrosion behavior of friction-stir-welded 2A14-T6 aluminum alloy was investigated by immersion testing in immersion exfoliation corrosion（EXCO） solution. Electrochemical measurements（open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy）, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed for analyzing the corrosion mechanism. The results show that, compared to the base material, the corrosion resistance of the friction-stir welds is greatly improved, and the weld nugget has the highest corrosion resistance. The pitting susceptibility originates from the edge of Al-Cu-Fe-Mn-Si phase particles as the cathode compared to the matrix due to their high self-corrosion potential. No corrosion activity is observed around the θ phase（Al2Cu） after 2 h of immersion in EXCO solution.

Interfacial characterization of resistance spot welded joint of steel and aluminum alloy

The dissimilar material resistance spot welding of galvanized high strength steel and aluminum alloy had been conducted. The welded joint exhibited a thin reaction layer composed of Fe2Al5 and Fe4Al13 phases at steel/aluminum interface. The welded joint presented a tensile shear load of 3.3 kN with an aluminum alloy nugget diameter of 5.7 mm. The interfacial failure mode was observed for the tensile shear specimen and fracture occurred at reaction layer and aluminum alloy fusion zone beside the interface. The reaction layer with compounds was the main reason for reduction of the welded joint mechanical property.

Evaluation on Fracture Toughness at Dynamic Loading for Welded Joint Based on the Local Approach

The changes in mechanical properties and fracture toughness by dynamic loading were investigated with experiments. The parameter R, which can reflect the effect of the loading rate and the temperature rising during the high loading rate, could be employed to describe the constituent relation for the typical structure steel and its weld metal. The dynamic loading effect on the stress/strain fields and the temperature variation in the vicinity of the crack tip was analyzed by the finite element method, the dynamic fracture behavior was evaluated based on the local approach. It has been found that the Weibull stress is an effective fracture parameter, independent of the temperature and the loading rate.

Effect of flame heating pass on microstructure and properties of A6N01 aluminum alloy welded joint

Flame heating combined with water cooling was used to straighten A6N01 aluminum alloy welded joint and effect of flame heating pass on its microstructure and mechanical properties was studied. Results showed that the flame induced the precipitation and growth of the Mg_2Si phase on the Al substrate for the thermal aging A6N01 aluminum alloy welded joints,thus it led the decrease of micro-hardness and tensile strength of the A6N01 aluminum alloy welded joint with the increase of the heating pass. However,the fatigue property of the flame heated joint was improved because the Mg_2Si precipitation hindered the initiation and propagation of the fatigue crack.