• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.35-48
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• 1989

This study is concerned with a correlation of microstructure and local brittle zone (LBZ) in offshore structural steel welds. The influence of the LBZ on fracture toughness was investigated by means of simulated heat-affected zone (HAZ) tests as well as welded joint tests. Micromechanical processes involved in void and cleavage microcrack formation were also identified using notched round tensile tests and subsequent SEM observations. The LBZ in the HAZ of a multiphase welded joint is the interstitially reheated coarse grained HAZ, which is influenced by metallurgical factors such as effective grain size, the major matrix structure and the amount of high-carbon martensite-austenite (M-A) constituents. The experimental results indicate that Chirpy energy was found to scale monotonically with the amount of M-A constituents, confirming that the M-A constituent is the major microstructural factor controlling the HAZ toughness. In addition, voids and microcracks are observed to initiate at M-A constituents by the shear cracking process. Thus, the M-A constituent played an important role in initiating the voids and microcracks, and consequently caused brittle fracture.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.384-389
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• 2002

This study was aimed to evaluate the weldability and optimize the welding conditions for flash butt welding of 780MPa grade steel applied to the automotive bumper reinforcement. And then the relationship between the welding conditions and the joint performance relating specifically to coil-joining steel would be established. The effect of welding conditions between flashing and upsetting process was elucidated. Microstructure observation of the joint indicated that the decarburized band was mainly changed with upsetting process. Width of HAZ was also related to the upsetting conditions rather than the flashing conditions. Generally maximum hardness at HAZ was correlated with $C_{eq}$ of steel and the empirical relationship was obtained to estimate the HAZ properties. Tensile elongation at the joint was usually decreased with increasing the initial clamping distance. Investigation of fracture surface after tensile and bending tests reveal that the origin of cracking at the joint was oxide inclusions composed of $SiO_2$, MnO, $Al_2$ $O_3$, and/or FeO. The amount of inclusions was dependent on the composition ratio of Mn/Si in steel. If this ratio was above 4, the amount of inclusions was low and then the resistance to cracking at the joint was enough to maintain the joint performance. It was obtained that the flashing process influenced the conditions for the energy input to establish uniform or non-uniform molten layer, while the upsetting conditions influenced the joint strength. Heat input variable during flashing process was also discussed with the joint properties.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.74-83
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• 2002

In order to investigate the hot cracking phenomena of the Inconel 690 overlay welds, the hot cracking test(modified Varestraint test) was performed by varying augmented strain and welding speed in GTAW. A total of five kinds of specimens was used in the hot cracking test. The specimens used were two kinds of one layer specimens that were composed of just Inconel 690 deposited metal and three kinds of double layer specimens that were composed with as upper part of Inconel 690 weld metal and lower part of SA508 cl.3 or STS 309L. The main results are as fo11ows: In the welds composed of just Inconel 690, as the augmented strain was more increased and the welding speed was more decreased, the extent of cracking was more increased. And these cracks were mainly solidification cracks, and liquation cracks were also observed partially in HAZ. And hot cracking susceptibily of Inconel 690 welds by using filler metals containing Nb were higher than that of the welds with Nb free. The hot cracking susceptibility of Inconel 690 weld metal was increased with dilution of SA 508 cl.3 and STS 309L, and the influence of SA 508 cl.3 was higher than that of 575 309L. The results of calculation of $TSC\Delta$ and $TLC\Delta$ in Inconel 690 weld metal changed by dilution with base metal or neighboring welds were agreed well with the results of hot cracking test in this study. Therefore, it was expected that the hot cracking was considerably decreased or prevented by using proper welding conditions such as lower heat input, filler metals, base metal and neighboring welds.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 2002

In order to clarify hot cracking phenomena occurred in Inconel 690 welds and it's prevention, in this study, the cracking behavior and the influence of welding variables on cracking in Inconel 690 overlay welds on Mn-Ni-Cr-Mo steel(SA 508 cl.3) for pressure vessel were investigated by using mock-up test. The main results are as follows: The cracks in Inconel 690 overlay welds were mainly generated near the start and the end part of welding beads adjacent to STS 309L welded outside of Inconel 690 welds. Most of the cracks showed typical solidification crack, and also it was assumed that there was possibility of liquation cracking in HAZ. The existence of Nb constituents or concentration of Nb was recognized on the fracture facets of the solidification cracks in the welds by SMAW. Therefore Nb was considered to be the main factor of the solidification cracking. As the weld heat input was more increased and the weld bead length was longer, the extent of cracking was more increased. Moreover the extent of cracking was considerably decreased by changing of welding sequence to the start and the end part of welds. Hot cracking in welds by GTAW was considerably decreased as compared with that of SMAW. And cracks were well generated in the Inconel 690 overlay welds adjacent to 575 309L welds. This means that the hot cracking susceptibility of Inconel 690 welds was largely varied by chemical components and/or compositions of filter metals, base metals and neighboring welds.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.114-119
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• 2007

Sulfide stress cracking (SSC) of materials exposed to oilfield environment containing hydrogen sulfide $(H_{2}S)$ has been recognized as a materials failure problem. Laboratory data and field experience have demonstrated that extremely low concentration of $H_{2}S$ may be sufficient to lead to SSC failure of susceptible materials. In some cases, $(H_{2}S)$ can act synergistically with chlorides to produce corrosion and cracking failures. SSC is a form of hydrogen embrittlement that occurs in high strength steels and in localized hard zones in weldment of susceptible materials. In the heat-affected zones adjacent to welds, there are often very narrow hard zones combined with regions of high residual stress that may become embrittled to such an extent by dissolved atomic hydrogen. On the base of understanding on sulfide stress cracking and its mechanism, SSC resistance for the several materials, those are ASTM A106 Gr B using in the oil industries, are evaluated.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.18-21
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• 2014

Cold cracking of weldment is one of the most serious welding problems. A sufficient quantity of diffusible hydrogen, a residual stress, and a sensitive microstructure are the causes of cold cracking. Removal of any one of these factors can be used to prevent cold cracking. Application of flux cored arc welding process is increasing due to high productivity and easiness of welding. In addition, to prevent cold cracking in the HAZ or weldment, preheat temperature and interpass temperature have to be controlled. In this study, the effect of preheat temperature on the levels of diffusible hydrogen in the weld metal deposited using flux cored wire was examined. The levels of preheat temperature of base metal specimen were ambient temperature, 50, 100 and $150^{\circ}C$ respectively. The result showed that the increase of preheat temperature was a linear relationship with reduction of diffusible hydrogen content in weldment.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.45-52
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• 1987

Generally the factors affected largely by the cold cracking sensitivity of the weld are the quantity of the diffusible hydrogen, the brittleness and hardness of the bond area and the tensile restraint stress. These factors have relation each other, and if we can reduce one of these factors, it becomes instrumental to the root cracks prevention of weld. This study deals with the gravity type-underwater-welding of KR Grade A-3 marine steel plate using E4303 welding electrode in order to compare wet-underwater-welding with in-air- welding, resulting in obtaining the tensile restraint characteristics, the hardness distribution, the quantity of diffusible hydrogen and the macro- and micro-crack properties in both underwater and in-air welds. The main results obtained are as follows: 1) The quantity of diffusible hydrogen measured for 48 hours is about 18cc/100g-weld-metal for the in-air-weld of one pass and about 48cc/100g-weld-metal for the underwater-weld of one pass which is about 3 times penetration of diffusible hydrogen compairing with the case of the in-air-weld. However, it was experimentally confirmed that, by the multi-pass welding of 2 to 5 passes, the diffusible hydrogen in the underwater weld metal can be reduced as much as 27 to 49%. 2) The hardness of the weld metal indicates the highest value in the heat affected zones of underwater weld for more rapid cooling rate, resulting in the higher sensitivity of cold cracking. So, it is desirable to soften the higher hardness in the HAZ by tempering effect such as the multi-pass welding in the underwater welding. 3) At the bond vicinity of the underwater weld HAZ, micro cracks were found as resulted by both more rapid cooling rate and more diffusible hydrogen and also by the stress corrosion cracking under the tensile restraint stress in the underwater. But this could be prevented by the tempering effect of the following weld bead such as the multi-pass welding.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.48-57
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• 1996

A study was made to examine the characteristics of base metal and stress relief cracking(SRC) of heat affected zone(HAZ) for HY-100 and Cu-bearing HSLA-100 steels. The Gleeble thermal/mechanical simulator was used to simulate the SRC/HAZ. The details of mechanical properties of base plate and SRC tested specimens were studied by impact test, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The specimens were aged at $650^{\circ}C$ for HSLA-100 steel and at $660^{\circ}C$ for HY-100 steel and thermal cycled from $1350^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$ with a cooling time of $\Delta$t_${800^{circ}C/500^{circ}C}$=21sec. corresponds to the heat input of 30kJ/cm. The thermal cycled specimens were stressed to a predetermined level of 248~600MPa and then reheated to the stress relief temperatures of $570~620^{\circ}C$. The time to failure$(t_f)$ at a given stress level was used as a measure of SRC susceptibility. The strength, elongation and impact toughness of base plate were greater in HSLA-100 steel than in HY-100 steel. The time to failure was decreased with increasing temperature and/or stress. HSLA-100 steel was more susceptible to stress relief cracking than HY-100 steel under same conditions. It is thought to be resulted from the precipitation of $\varepsilon$-Cu phase by dynamic self diffusion of solute atoms. By the precipitation of $\varepsilon$-Cu phase, the differential strengthening of grain interior relative to grain boundary may be greater in the Cu-bearing HSLA-100 steel than in HY-100 steel. Therefore, greater strain concentration at grain boundary of HSLA-100 steel results in the increased SRC susceptibility. The activation energies for SRC of HSLA-100 steel are 103.9kcal/mal for 387MPa and 87.6kcal/mol for 437MPa and that of HY-100 steel is 129.2kcal/mol for 437MPa.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 1996.05a
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• pp.186-189
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• 1996

A study was made to examine the characteristics of base metal and stress relief cracking(SRC) of heat affected zone(HAZ) for HY-100 and Cu-bearing HSLA-100 steels. The Gleeble thermal/mechanical simulator was used to simulate the SRC/HAZ. The details of mechanical properties of base plate and SRC tested specimens were studied. The specimens were aged at $650^{\circ}C$ for HSLA-100 steel and at 66$0^{\circ}C$ for HY-100 steel and thermal cycled from 135$0^{\circ}C$ In $25^{\circ}C$ with a cooling time of $\Delta$ $t_{800^{\circ}50}$ $0^{\circ}C$/=21sec. corresponds to the heat input of 30kJ/cm. The thermal cycled specimens were stressed to a predetermined level of 248~600MPa and then reheated to the stress relief temperatures of 570~62$0^{\circ}C$. The time to failure( $t_{f}$) at a given stress level was used as a measure of SRC susceptibility. The strength, elongation and impact toughness of base plate were greater in HSLA-100 steel than in HY-100 steel. The time to failure was decreased with increasing temperature and/or stress. HSLA-100 steel was more susceptible to stress relief cracking than HY-100 steel under same conditions. It is thought to be resulted from the precipitation of $\varepsilon$-Cu phase by dynamic self diffusion of solute atoms. Therefore, greater strain concentration at grain boundary of HSLA-100 steel results in the increased SRC susceptibility.y.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.14-17
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• 2014

Ferritic stainless steels are widely used in the construction industry and in exhaust manifolds due to their low cost and relatively superior stress corrosion cracking resistance and pitting corrosion resistance compared to austenite stainless steels. Ferritic stainless steels are currently welded by various welding process including gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), electron resistance welding (ERW) and laser beam welding. However, when these stainless steels are welded by fusion welding, some problems occur in the fusion zone (FZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ). First, the ductility of the weld is reduced due to the grain growth in the FZ and HAZ. Second, as its HAZ is frequently sensitized during welding, corrosion resistance deteriorates in this region due to the Cr depletion zone. To prevent these problems, it is recommended that ferritic stainless steels be welded with a low heat input. In this study, recent researches in the view of friction stir welded ferritic stainless steels are briefly reviewed.