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The effects of variations in alloying content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high strength steel weld metals have been studied. Based on neural network modelling, weld metals were produced using shielded metal arc welding with nickel at 7 or 9 wt. %, manganese at 2 or 0.5 wt. % while carbon was varied between 0.03 and 0.11 wt. %. From mechanical testing, it was confirmed that a large gain in impact toughness could be achieved by reducing the manganese content. Carbon additions were found to increase strength with only a minor loss to impact toughness as predicted by the modelling. The highest yield strength (912 MPa) in combination with good impact toughness (over 60 J at -100 °C) was achieved with an alloying content of 7 wt. % nickel, 0.5 wt. % manganese and 0.11 wt. % carbon. Based on thermodynamic calculations and observed segregation behaviour it was concluded that the weld metals solidify as austenite. The microstructure was characterised using optical, transmission electron and high resolution scanning electron microscopy. At interdendritic regions mainly martensite was found. In dendrite core regions of the low carbon weld metals a mixture of upper bainite, lower bainite and a novel constituent - coalesced bainite - formed. Coalesced bainite was characterised by large bainitic ferrite grains with cementite precipitates and is believed to form when the bainite and martensite start temperatures are close to each other. Carbon additions were found to promote a more martensitic microstructure throughout the dendrites. Mechanical properties could be rationalised in terms of microstructural constituents and a constitutional diagram was constructed summarising microstructure as a function of manganese and nickel contents.

O transporte de gás e derivados de petróleo é realizado pelo uso de tubulações, denominadas de oleodutos ou gasodutos, que necessitam de elevados níveis de resistência mecânica e corrosão, aliadas a uma boa tenacidade à fratura e resistência à fadiga. A adição de elementos de liga nesses aços, Ti, V e Nb entre outros, é realizada para o atendimento destes níveis de resistência após o processamento termomecânico das chapas para fabricação destes dutos, utilizando-se a norma API 5L do American Petroleum Institute, API, para a classificação destes aços. A adição de elementos de liga em associação com o processamento termomecânico visa o refino de grão da microestrutura austenítica, o qual é transferido para a estrutura ferrítica resultante. O Brasil é o detentor das maiores reservas mundiais de nióbio, que tem sido apresentado como refinador da microestrutura mais eficiente que outros elementos, como o V e Ti. Neste trabalho dois aços, denominados Normal e Alto Nb foram estudados. A norma API propõe que a soma das concentrações de Nióbio, Vanádio e Titânio devem ser menores que 0,15% no aço. As concentrações no aço contendo mais alto Nb é de 0,107%, contra 0,082% do aço de composição normal, ou seja, ambos atendem o valor especificado pela norma API. Entretanto, os aços são destinados ao uso em dutovias pela PETROBRÁS que impõe limites nos elementos microligantes para os aços aplicados em dutovias. Deste modo estudos foram desenvolvidos para verificar se os parâmetros de resistência à tração, ductilidade, tenacidade ao impacto e resistência à propagação de trinca por fadiga, estariam em acordo com a norma API 5L grau X70 e com os resultados que outros pesquisadores têm encontrado para aços dessa classe. Ainda, como para a formação de uma dutovia os tubos são unidos uns aos outros por processo de soldagem (circunferencial), o estudo de fadiga foi estendido para as regiões da solda e zona termicamente afetada (ZTA). Como conclusão final observa-se que o aço API 5L X70 com Nb modificado, produzido conforme processo desenvolvido pela ArcelorMittal - Tubarão, apresenta os parâmetros de resistência e ductilidade em tração, resistência ao impacto e resistência a propagação de trinca em fadiga (PTF) similar aos aços API 5L X70 com teores de Nb = 0,06 % peso e aqueles da literatura com teores de Nb+Ti+V < 0,15% peso. O metal base, metal de solda e zona termicamente afetada apresentaram curvas da/dN x &#916;K similares, com os parâmetros do material C e m, da equação de Paris, respectivamente na faixa de 3,3 - 4,2 e 1.3x10-10 - 5.0x10-10 [(mm/ciclo)/(MPa.m1/2)m]. / The transport of gas and oil is performed by pipelines, which require high levels of mechanical and corrosion strengths, combined with good fracture toughness and fatigue resistance. Addition of alloy elements in these steels, as Ti, V and Nb among others, is performed to meet the necessary strength levels after the thermomechanical processing of sheets for the production of these pipes, using the API 5L standards of the American Petroleum Institute, API for the classification of these steels. The addition of alloying elements in combination with the thermomechanical processing looking for grain refinement of austenite microstructure, which is transferred to the resulting ferritic structure. Brazil is the holder of the largest reserves of niobium, which has been presented as the most efficient microstructure refiner if compared with other micro alloying elements, such as the V and Ti. In this work two steels, named as regular and enhanced Nb were studied. The API standard states that the summation of niobium, vanadium and titanium contents should be less than 0.15 wt%. The total amount of these elements in the enhanced Nb steel is 0.107 wt%, against 0.082 wt% in the regular Nb steel, meaning that both meet the value specified by the API standard. However, the steels are intended for use in pipelines by the oil companies, which imposes limits on the amount of micro-alloying elements. Therefore, studies have been conducted to verify the tensile strength parameters, ductility, impact toughness and resistance to crack propagation by fatigue, to primary verify if both are in accordance with the standard API 5L X70 or X80 grades and compare the fatigue results presented by other researchers for similar steel grades. It is well known that to build a pipeline, the pipes are joined to each other by a girth welding process, therefore, the fatigue study was extended to the weld bead and to the heat affected zone (HAZ). The results has shown that both steel, produced by by ArcelorMittal - Tubarão may be classified as API 5L X70 steels and they present tensile strength parameters, ductility, impact resistance and fatigue crack propagation rate similar to the API 5L X70 steels with Nb + Ti + V <0.15 wt%. The base metal, weld metal and heat affected zone presented similar da/dN x &#916;K curves, with the material parameters m and C, from the Paris equation, in the range of 3.3 - 4.2 and 1.3x10-10 5.0 x 10-10 [(mm/cycles)/(MPa.m1/2)m], respectively.

Submerged arc welding (SAW) is often the method of choice in pressure vessel fabrication. This process features high production rates, welding energy and/or welding speed and requires minimal operator skill. The selection of appropriate parameters in SAW is essential, not only to optimize the welding process in order to maintain the highest level of productivity, but also to obtain the most desirable mechanical properties of the weld.<p> The focus of this study was to investigate the effect of welding speed on the properties of SA516 Grade 70. Plates of SA516 Gr. 70 steel 17 mm x 915 mm x 122 mm were submerged arc welded with a welding current of 700 A and welding speeds of 15.3, 12.3 and 9.3 mm/s. Following the welding; strength, microstructure, hardness and impact toughness of the specimens were examined. Charpy impact testing was performed according to ASTM E 23 on specimens notched in the weld metal (WM) and in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), to measure the impact toughness. Fractography was performed on broken specimens using optical and scanning electron microscopy in order to correlate the mechanisms of fracture with the impact toughness values.<p> The highest hardness values were in the coarse-grained HAZ followed by the WM with the lowest hardness in the parent metal (PM). The HAZ had higher impact toughness than the WM and PM for all welding speeds. The slowest welding speed (9.3 mm/s) obtained complete penetration and therefore produced the most visually sound weld. The fastest welding speed (15.3 mm/s) had the narrowest HAZ and showed good ductile-to-brittle transition behaviour for both the WM and HAZ specimens, but produced incomplete penetration defects. Welding speed had little affect on the notch toughness of the HAZ with only a 9 J rise in upper shelf energy and an 8 °C drop in the impact transition temperature (ITT) with increased welding speed from 9.3 to 15.3 mm/s. However, for the WM, there was a 63 J drop in the upper shelf energy but also a 41 °C improvement of the ITT between the 9.3 and 15.3 mm/s welding speeds.

Submerged arc welding (SAW) is often the method of choice in pressure vessel fabrication. This process features high production rates, welding energy and/or welding speed and requires minimal operator skill. The selection of appropriate parameters in SAW is essential, not only to optimize the welding process in order to maintain the highest level of productivity, but also to obtain the most desirable mechanical properties of the weld.<p> The focus of this study was to investigate the effect of welding speed on the properties of SA516 Grade 70. Plates of SA516 Gr. 70 steel 17 mm x 915 mm x 122 mm were submerged arc welded with a welding current of 700 A and welding speeds of 15.3, 12.3 and 9.3 mm/s. Following the welding; strength, microstructure, hardness and impact toughness of the specimens were examined. Charpy impact testing was performed according to ASTM E 23 on specimens notched in the weld metal (WM) and in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), to measure the impact toughness. Fractography was performed on broken specimens using optical and scanning electron microscopy in order to correlate the mechanisms of fracture with the impact toughness values.<p> The highest hardness values were in the coarse-grained HAZ followed by the WM with the lowest hardness in the parent metal (PM). The HAZ had higher impact toughness than the WM and PM for all welding speeds. The slowest welding speed (9.3 mm/s) obtained complete penetration and therefore produced the most visually sound weld. The fastest welding speed (15.3 mm/s) had the narrowest HAZ and showed good ductile-to-brittle transition behaviour for both the WM and HAZ specimens, but produced incomplete penetration defects. Welding speed had little affect on the notch toughness of the HAZ with only a 9 J rise in upper shelf energy and an 8 °C drop in the impact transition temperature (ITT) with increased welding speed from 9.3 to 15.3 mm/s. However, for the WM, there was a 63 J drop in the upper shelf energy but also a 41 °C improvement of the ITT between the 9.3 and 15.3 mm/s welding speeds.

The aim of the thesis was to study the susceptibility for brittle failures and the fracture process of duplex stainless steels at sub-zero temperatures (°C). In the first part of the thesis plates of hot-rolled duplex stainless steel with various thicknesses were used to study the influence of delamination (also known as splits) on the fracture toughness. The methods used were impact and fracture toughness testing. Light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the microstructure and fracture surfaces. It was concluded that the delaminations caused a loss of constraint along the crack front which resulted in a stable fracture process despite the presence of cleavage cracks. These delaminations occurred when cleavage cracks are constrained by the elongated austenite lamellae. The pop-in phenomenon which is frequently observed in duplex stainless steels during fracture toughness testing was shown to occur due to these delaminations. The susceptibility for pop-in behaviour during testing increased with decreasing plate thickness. The toughness anisotropy was also explained by the delamination phenomenon.In the second part of the thesis duplex stainless steel weld metals from lean duplex and super duplex were investigated. For the lean duplex weldments with different nickel contents, tensile, impact and fracture toughness testing were conducted from room temperature to sub-zero temperatures. The result showed that increased nickel content decreased the susceptibility for critical cleavage initiation at sub-zero temperatures. The super duplex stainless steel weldment was post weld heat treated. The fracture sequence at low temperature was critical cleavage fracture initiation after minor crack-tip blunting and ductile fracture. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy investigation of the weld metals showed that substitutional element partitioning is small in the weld metal. However, for the post weld heat treated weldments element partitioning occurred which resulted in decreased nickel content in the ferrite. / <p>QC 20131108</p>

O transporte de gás e derivados de petróleo é realizado pelo uso de tubulações, denominadas de oleodutos ou gasodutos, que necessitam de elevados níveis de resistência mecânica e corrosão, aliadas a uma boa tenacidade à fratura e resistência à fadiga. A adição de elementos de liga nesses aços, Ti, V e Nb entre outros, é realizada para o atendimento destes níveis de resistência após o processamento termomecânico das chapas para fabricação destes dutos, utilizando-se a norma API 5L do American Petroleum Institute, API, para a classificação destes aços. A adição de elementos de liga em associação com o processamento termomecânico visa o refino de grão da microestrutura austenítica, o qual é transferido para a estrutura ferrítica resultante. O Brasil é o detentor das maiores reservas mundiais de nióbio, que tem sido apresentado como refinador da microestrutura mais eficiente que outros elementos, como o V e Ti. Neste trabalho dois aços, denominados Normal e Alto Nb foram estudados. A norma API propõe que a soma das concentrações de Nióbio, Vanádio e Titânio devem ser menores que 0,15% no aço. As concentrações no aço contendo mais alto Nb é de 0,107%, contra 0,082% do aço de composição normal, ou seja, ambos atendem o valor especificado pela norma API. Entretanto, os aços são destinados ao uso em dutovias pela PETROBRÁS que impõe limites nos elementos microligantes para os aços aplicados em dutovias. Deste modo estudos foram desenvolvidos para verificar se os parâmetros de resistência à tração, ductilidade, tenacidade ao impacto e resistência à propagação de trinca por fadiga, estariam em acordo com a norma API 5L grau X70 e com os resultados que outros pesquisadores têm encontrado para aços dessa classe. Ainda, como para a formação de uma dutovia os tubos são unidos uns aos outros por processo de soldagem (circunferencial), o estudo de fadiga foi estendido para as regiões da solda e zona termicamente afetada (ZTA). Como conclusão final observa-se que o aço API 5L X70 com Nb modificado, produzido conforme processo desenvolvido pela ArcelorMittal - Tubarão, apresenta os parâmetros de resistência e ductilidade em tração, resistência ao impacto e resistência a propagação de trinca em fadiga (PTF) similar aos aços API 5L X70 com teores de Nb = 0,06 % peso e aqueles da literatura com teores de Nb+Ti+V < 0,15% peso. O metal base, metal de solda e zona termicamente afetada apresentaram curvas da/dN x &#916;K similares, com os parâmetros do material C e m, da equação de Paris, respectivamente na faixa de 3,3 - 4,2 e 1.3x10-10 - 5.0x10-10 [(mm/ciclo)/(MPa.m1/2)m]. / The transport of gas and oil is performed by pipelines, which require high levels of mechanical and corrosion strengths, combined with good fracture toughness and fatigue resistance. Addition of alloy elements in these steels, as Ti, V and Nb among others, is performed to meet the necessary strength levels after the thermomechanical processing of sheets for the production of these pipes, using the API 5L standards of the American Petroleum Institute, API for the classification of these steels. The addition of alloying elements in combination with the thermomechanical processing looking for grain refinement of austenite microstructure, which is transferred to the resulting ferritic structure. Brazil is the holder of the largest reserves of niobium, which has been presented as the most efficient microstructure refiner if compared with other micro alloying elements, such as the V and Ti. In this work two steels, named as regular and enhanced Nb were studied. The API standard states that the summation of niobium, vanadium and titanium contents should be less than 0.15 wt%. The total amount of these elements in the enhanced Nb steel is 0.107 wt%, against 0.082 wt% in the regular Nb steel, meaning that both meet the value specified by the API standard. However, the steels are intended for use in pipelines by the oil companies, which imposes limits on the amount of micro-alloying elements. Therefore, studies have been conducted to verify the tensile strength parameters, ductility, impact toughness and resistance to crack propagation by fatigue, to primary verify if both are in accordance with the standard API 5L X70 or X80 grades and compare the fatigue results presented by other researchers for similar steel grades. It is well known that to build a pipeline, the pipes are joined to each other by a girth welding process, therefore, the fatigue study was extended to the weld bead and to the heat affected zone (HAZ). The results has shown that both steel, produced by by ArcelorMittal - Tubarão may be classified as API 5L X70 steels and they present tensile strength parameters, ductility, impact resistance and fatigue crack propagation rate similar to the API 5L X70 steels with Nb + Ti + V <0.15 wt%. The base metal, weld metal and heat affected zone presented similar da/dN x &#916;K curves, with the material parameters m and C, from the Paris equation, in the range of 3.3 - 4.2 and 1.3x10-10 5.0 x 10-10 [(mm/cycles)/(MPa.m1/2)m], respectively.

HSLA-65 steel (6.4 mm thick) was friction stir welded at various welding speeds and spindle speeds. Varying weld parameters provided a range of heat inputs. Impact toughness was evaluated as a function of the different weld parameters and corresponding weld heat inputs. Charpy V-Notch (CVN) tests were conducted in parent material and at both the weld nugget centerline and heat-affected zone (HAZ) locations. The upper shelf CVN impact energy of the weld nugget was above that of the base metal for all weld parameters. The upper shelf impact toughness in the HAZ was largely unaffected by changing weld parameters. The nil-ductility transition (NDT) temperature in the weld nugget increased with increasing heat input. The toughness, with respect to the ductile-to-brittle transition, was negatively affected by the increase in heat input. The NDT temperature in the HAZ did not correlate with heat input. The microstructures and microhardness data were examined. Aspects of variation in the impact energy results were identified as the inhomogeneity of the weld microstructure and the placement of the V-notch. Weld nugget microstructures were more inhomogeneous than base metal. Hardness results showed varying values of hardness from the weld crown to the root, transversely across the weld, and longitudinally along the length. Variation due primarily to the inhomogeneity of the weld microstructure is compounded by the location of the V-notch.

No description available.

O objetivo desta Dissertação foi analisar o efeito do tratamento térmico de alívio de tensões pós-soldagem sobre a microestrutura e comportamento mecânico de soldas produzidas com arame tubular rutílico AWS E-81T1 Ni1. Foi soldada uma junta com 60 mm de espessura, na posição vertical e progressão ascendente. Esta junta foi dividida em três partes, sendo uma mantida como soldada e as outras duas tratadas termicamente por 6 horas em diferentes temperaturas, 585 °C e 650 °C. Avaliou-se o efeito do tratamento térmico sobre as propriedades mecânicas por meio de ensaio de dureza, tração e impacto Charpy-V. A caracterização microestrutural foi realizada por microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. As observações experimentais mostraram uma diminuição da tenacidade ao impacto no material tratado termicamente, com uma tendência para uma queda maior com o aumento da temperatura do tratamento térmico. Este comportamento pode ser atribuído principalmente à precipitação e crescimento de carbonetos. Não foi observada a presença de mecanismos de fratura intergranular. Provavelmente o metal de solda estudado não possuía nível de impurezas suficiente para a ativação deste mecanismo. / The objective of this Dissertation was to analyze the effect of postweld heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical behavior of welds obtained by flux cored wire AWS E-81T1 Ni1. It was welded a joint with 60 mm thickness, on vertical position and ascendant progress. This joint was divided in three parts, one maintained as welded and two others heat treated for 6 hours on different temperatures, 585 °C and 650 °C. The effect of the heat treatment on mechanical properties was evaluated by means of hardness, tensile and impact Charpy-V tests. The characterization of the microstructure was undertaken utilizing optical and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results revealed a decrease of impact toughness in heat treated material, with a tendency to a low impact toughness for high heat treatment temperature. This behavior may principally be attributed to an increase precipitation and growth of carbides. No intergranular fracture mechanism was observed. Probably the level of impurities in the weld metal studied was not high enough to provoke such phenomena.