HEAT-AFFECTED ZONE FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF HIGH STRENGTH STEELS EVALUATED USING THE WEAKEST LINK MODEL

A probabilistic model is derived based on the weakest link theory to evaluate the specimen thickness effect and the size effect of coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) on CTOD toughness values in heat-affected zones (HAZ) of high strength steels. The scatter of CTOD fracture toughness values in heterogeneous weldments is predicted using this model. The specimen thickness has influence on the CTOD toughness values of HAZ. With increase in the specimen thickness the estimated and experimental mean CTOD values decrease while the lower boundary CTOD values remain almost unchanged. The size of CGHAZ has strong negative effect on the mean CTOD values of HAZ. The estimated mean CTOD values and lower boundary CTOD values agree with experimental CTOD testing results of HAZ notched specimens. The facture toughness scatter is dependent on the Weibull shape parameter a and specimen thickness.

Microstructure and defect of titanium alloy electron beam deep penetration welded joint

The microstructure, phase composition and cold shut defect of thick titanium alloy electron beam welded joint were studied. The results showed that the microstructure of weld zone was composed of α′ phase; the heat affected zone was divided into fine-grained zone and coarse-grained zone, the microstructure of fine-grained zone was primary α phase ＋ β phase ＋ equiaxed α phase, and the microstructure of coarse-grained zone was primary α phase ＋ acicular α′ phase; the microstructure of base metal zone basically consisted of primary α phase, and a small amount of residual β phase sprinkled. The forming. reason of cold shut was analyzed, and the precaution of cold shut was proposed.

Effect of cooling time t8/5 on microstructure and toughness of Nb-Ti- Mo microalloyed C-Mn steel

In order to further optimize welding process of Nb-Ti-Mo microalloyed steel, welding thermal cycles on coarse-grained heat-affected zone （CGHAZ） of welded joints were simulated using Gleeble 1500. The microstructure and low-temperature impact fracture were investigated using a scanning electron microscope and a pendulum impact machine, respectively. Moreover, the relationship between cooling time ts/5 and the microstructure of CGHAZ was discussed, and the effect of microstructure on impact toughness was also studied. As cooling time increased, martensite fraction decreased from 97.8% （3 s） to 3.0% （60 s）. The fraction of martensite/austenite （M/A） constituent increased from 2.2% （3 s） to 39.0% （60 s）, its shape changed from granular to strip, and the maximum length increased from 2.4 μm （3 s） to 7.0 μm （60 s）. As cooling time increased, the prior austenite grain size increased from 34.0 μm （3 s） to 49.0 gm （60 s）, the impact absorption energy reduced from 101.8 J （5 s） to 7.2 J （60 s）, and the fracture mechanism changed from quasi-cleavage fracture to cleavage fracture. The decreased toughness of CGHAZ was due to the reduction of lath martensite-content, coarsening of original austenite grain, and increase and coarsening of M/A constituent. The heat input was controlled under 7 kJ cm-1 during actual welding for these steels.

Experimental investigation and design of aluminum columns with longitudinal welds

This paper presents an experimental investigation of longitudinally welded aluminum alloy I-section columns subjected to pure axial compression.The specimens were fabricated using 6061-T6 heat-treated aluminum alloy.The test program included 20 column tests which were separated into 2 test series of different types of welding sections.Each test series contained 10 columns.All the specimens were welded using the Tungsten Inert Gas welding method.The length of the specimens ranged from 442 to 2433 mm in order to obtain a column curve for each test series.The observed failure mode for the column tests includes mainly flexural buckling around the minor axis and the major axis by applying support except for one column(ZP 1217-1)which buckled in the local zone and some columns which failed in the weld.The test strengths were compared with the design strengths predicted by the European Code and China Code for aluminum structures.The purpose of this paper is to present the tests results of two typically longitudinally welded I-section columns,and to check the accuracy of the design rules in the current specifications.