Influence of different microstructural features on impact toughness and crack initiation behavior of coarse grain heat-affected zone in X80 pipeline steel

Coarse grain heat-affected zone samples of X80 pipeline steel under different heat inputs were obtained through thermal welding simulation experiments with Gleeble 3500.Charpy impact tests and a combination of multiscale characterizations were conducted to investigate the influence of various microstructural features on impact toughness and crack initiation behavior.The results prove that, as the heat input increases, the number of M/A components increases, thereby degrading toughness and increasing hardness.Meanwhile, more M/A constituents tend to aggregate on prior austenite grain boundaries(PAGBs),and the overall dimensions of M/A and the width and volume fraction of the lath martensite substructure inside M/A islands would increase as well.These changes make intersections between boundary M/As and PAGBs become one of the preferred sites for crack initiation.In addition, only large-sized grotesque inclusions can act as a direct inducement of crack initiation.

Influence of the secondary welding thermal cycle on the microstructure and property of coarse grain heat-affected zone in an X100 pipeline steel

The influence of the secondary thermal cycle on the microstructure of coarse grain heat-affected zone in an XIO0 pipeline steel was investigated by means of a thermal simulation technique and microscopic analysis method. The property of coarse grain heat-affected zone was characterized by Charpy V-Notch impact properties testing. The results indicated that the experimental steel exhibited local brittleness of intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone when the peak tempera- ture of secondary thermal cycle was in the range of two phases region （ ~ and 3/）. There were two main reasons for the local brittleness. The first was that the microstructures of intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone were not fined although partial grain recrystallization occurred. The second was that M-A islands, which had the higher content, larger size and higher hardness, existed in intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone.

Effect of Heat Input on Microstructure and Toughness of Coarse Grain Heat Affected Zone in Nb Microalloyed HSLA Steels

The influence of Nb on microstructure, mechanical property and the transformation kinetics of the coarse grain heat affected zone （CGHAZ） in HSLA steels for different heat inputs, has been investigated. When welded at higher heat inputs （100-60 kJ/cm）, impact toughness values of the steel without Nb are much higher than those of the steel with Nb, and the lowest span is 153 J at 60 kJ/cm. But only a little higher values are observed at lower heat inputs （40-30 kJ/cm）, and the highest span is 68 J at 30 kJ/cm. Dilatation studies indicate that continuous cooling transformation starting temperatures （Ts） of CGHAZ for the steel with Nb are approximately 15-30℃ which are lower than those of the steel without Nb at all heat inputs. For higher heat inputs, Nb in solid solution suppresses ferrite transformation and promotes the formation of granular bainite which has detrimental effect on impact toughness. For lower heat inputs higher Charpy impact energy values in the steel with Nb are associated with the formation of low carbon self-tempered martensite.

Effects of arc-excited ultrasonic on microstructures and properties of weld

To control the solidification process of metal, a new method, arc ultrasonic, was developed. A high frequency exciting supply was electromagnetically coupled with conventional welding supply. An arc excited ultrasonic emission was induced successfully in arc combustion process. Some signals with different frequencies and currents were used in submerged arc welding and CO 2 gas shielded arc welding. The effects of arc ultrasonic on the structures and properties of the weld (including the fusion zone, coarse grain zone and heat affected zone) were studied. The results show that more acicular ferrites form in the fusion zone, the toughness is improved under the arc ultrasonic of different frequency, and the coarse microstructures in the partially melted zone is refined. [

Thermal simulation of single thermal cycle for high strength steel pipe

Single thermal cycle simulation tests were carried out for X80 high strength steel pipes from three steel mills by a Gleeble 3500HS thermal simulation test machine,and coincidence degree of the thermal simulation curve with the set curve under heat inputs of 6–30 kJ/cm was observed;The relationship between different heat inputs and microstructure,impact toughness and hardness of steel pipe CGHAZ(coarse grain heat affected zone)was studied by metallographic examination,impact test and hardness test.The results show that with the increase of heat input,original austenite grain size increases gradually,the lath bainite ratio decreases and the granular bainite ratio increases.The impact toughness of C steel pipe is lower than those of A and B steel pipe,and the impact toughness of CGHAZ from the three steel pipes show different trends:for A steel pipe CGHAZ,impact toughness increases first and then decreases,with the highest value of 270–320 J under 20–25 kJ/cm;for B steel pipe CGHAZ,impact toughness decreases slightly;for C steel pipe CGHAZ,impact toughness increases,with the highest value of 260–300 J under 25 kJ/cm.As the heat input increases,the hardness of three X80 steel pipes CGHAZ shows a decreasing trhighend,and C steel pipe has the largest decreasing range.

Evaluation of the location parameter in Weibull distribution of CTOD testing results of high strength steel weldments

In this paper, the location parameter δ_(a) in Weibull distribution i.e. the lower limiting CTOD toughness of high strength steel weldments is evaluated from Gleeble simulated coarse grained specimens. The Charpy-V transition temperature obtained from these specimens is transformed to a fracture toughness K_(IC) value at a given temperature using Sanz' relation. Then, the location parameter a is δ_(a) evaluated. The predicted location parameter arrives at agreement with the lowest CTOD value as obtained from thick multilayer weldments. The improvement of the fracture toughness of multilayer weldments needs the increase of the lowering limiting CTOD.toughness i.e. the toughness of the coarse grained zone.

Weldability of 610MPa Grade High Strength Plate Steel 12MnNiVR for Oil Storage Tanks

The weldability of 12MnNiVR was examined in terms of the simulated HAZ continuous cooling transformation (SH-CCT) diagram,microstructure and mechanical properties of the simulated coarse grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ).When t 8/5 is shorter,the microstructure mainly consists of lath bainite.When t 8/5 is 60 s,the microstructure becomes coarser bainite.Some acicular ferrite appears beside lath bainite when t 8/5 =100s.Finally,a microstructure composed of polygonal ferrite,acicular ferrite,and small amount pearlite is obtained with a small amount of bainite at t 8/5 】100s.With the increase of t 8/5,the hardness of CGHAZ decreases considerably.The minimum impact toughness of CGHAZ appears at t 8/5 =100s.The hardness and the toughness of CGHAZ remain above the specified values for steel 12MnNiVR.

Effect of Vanadium Microalloying on the HAZ Microstructure and Properties of Low Carbon Steels

Four Steels,C-Mn-0.05V,C-Mn-0.11V,C-Mn-0.03Nb and C-Mn were subjected to heat treatment to simulate the microstructure of a coarse grained heat affected zone (CGHAZ) and an intercritically reheated coarse grained heat affected zone (ICCGHAZ).This involved reheating to 1350°C,rapid cooling (Δt 8/5 =24s) to room temperature and then reheating to either 750°C or 800°C.The toughness of the HAZs was assessed using both Charpy and CTOD tests.Microstructural features were characterised by optical,scanning` and transmission electron microscopy.Fractographic examinations of the Charpy and CTOD specimens were carried out to understand the micromechanism of fracture under different microstructural and test conditions.The CGHAZ toughness was similar for the steels except that Steel C-Mn-0.05V had a slightly lower ITT compared to the others.The toughness deteriorated in the ICCGHAZ for all the steels,again Steel C-Mn-0.05V had a superior toughness compared to the other three steels in both ICCGHAZ conditions.Raising the level of vanadium to 0.11% caused a decrease in ICCGHAZ toughness.Steel C-Mn-Nb exhibited a greater degradation of impact toughness after the intercritical cycles.The presence of M-A constituents was the dominant factor in determining the toughness of the ICCGHAZs.The size and area fraction of the M-A constituents were the smallest in Steel C-Mn-0.05V.Increasing vanadium level to 0.11% resulted in a greater area fraction of the M-A constituents,larger average and maximum sizes of M-A particles,and significantly more fields containing the M-A.The addition of 0.031% Nb produced the largest M-A particles and the greatest area fraction for the steels tested.