O aço de médio carbono e baixa liga SAE 4340 vem sofrendo diversas modificações e neste processo de desenvolvimento surgiu o aço 300M. O presente trabalho visa avaliar e comparar a microestrutura e a resistência mecânica dos aços SAE 4340 e 300M, submetidos ao processo de soldagem autógena a laser e em seguida a duas formas de tratamento: o revenimento pós-soldagem e a nitretação à plasma. Também é avaliado o efeito combinado dos tratamentos de revenimento e nitretação. Após soldagem, as chapas foram divididas nos lotes: como recebido, soldado, soldado e revenido, soldado e tratado superficialmente por nitretação a plasma e soldado, revenido e tratado superficialmente por nitretação a plasma. A partir desses lotes, foram obtidas amostras para análise microestrutural e produzidos corpos-de-prova para ensaios de tração. Os resultados mostraram que a presença de precipitados confere ao aço 300M maior resistência mecânica em relação ao aço 4340. Após a soldagem a laser, a zona fundida e zona termicamente afetada de ambos os materiais apresentaram fases diferentes das fases presentes no metal base, a zona fundida mostrou-se martensítica em sua maioria, e a zona termicamente afetada apresentou-se multifásica. Devido às dimensões reduzidas do cordão de solda, o comportamento em tração dos corpos-deprova soldados não diferiu significativamente dos corpos-de-prova produzidos com os materiais de base. O tratamento térmico de revenimento pós-soldagem promoveu queda na dureza da zona fundida em ambos os aços. Após a nitretação, os aços 4340 e 300M apresentaram aumento de dureza próximo às superfícies. O aço 4340 apresentou aumento na resistência mecânica sem perda significativa de ductilidade. Quando revenido e nitretado após a soldagem, o aço 4340 apresentou ligeira queda na resistência mecânica. A nitretação do aço 300M, com a temperatura e tempo escolhidos, levou à fragilização do material em ambas as situações (com e sem revenimento), resultando em uma piora significativa das propriedades mecânicas, o que indica que os parâmetros de nitretação para este aço devem ser revistos. / The high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel SAE 4340 has been modified over time giving raise to the 300M steel. This study intends to evaluate and compare the microstructure and the mechanical behavior of the steels SAE 4340 and 300M, after laser beam welding in one pass, followed by distinct treatment routes: tempering, plasma nitriding and tempering plus plasma nitriding. After welding, the plates were divided into five sets: as welded, welded and tempered, welded and plasma nitrided, welded and tempered and plasma nitrided. The samples for microstructural analyses and tensile tests were taken from these material conditions. The results revealed that the presence of precipitates allow higher mechanical strenght to the 300M steel compared to 4340 steel. The melted zone showed more fases if compared with base material, fase like martensite, and the heat affected zone presented a multiphase in your matrix. The melted zone in both materials suffered a hardness decreasing after tempering, although no microstructural changes were observed. After nitriding the 4340 and 300M steels showed a surface hardness increase. The 4340 steel showed an increase in tensile strenght without significant ductility loss. When tempered and nitrided after welding, the 4340 steel suffered a drop in its mechanical strenght. The 300M steel suffered an embrittlement after nitriding in both situations (with and without tempering), resulting in unsatisfactory mechanical properties. This indicates that improvements are needed in the plasma nitriding parameters for this steel.

O desenvolvimento dos veículos atuais vem sendo impulsionado pela necessidade de redução de massa associada com o aumento da segurança para os passageiros. Na procura de novos materiais e processos para atender estas exigências, os aços bifásicos ferrítico-martensíticos ou DP vêm se destacando entre os aços avançados de alta resistência (AHSS), por apresentar elevada resistência mecânica e boa ductilidade. Da mesma forma, a soldagem a laser vem se mostrando promissora para junção desta classe de materiais. Este processo permite unir os aços DP com boa qualidade metalúrgica sem significativas distorções dimensionais. Embora os aços DP apresentem boa soldabilidade, um amolecimento localizado na zona afetada pelo calor (ZAC) também é observado, especialmente no aço DP1000, que apresenta elevada fração de martensita. Desta forma, esta Tese propõe a soldagem a laser do aço DP1000 de espessura 1,80 mm, seguida de uma sistemática caracterização microestrutural, visando a produção de juntas soldadas suficientemente resistentes. Para isto, foram produzidos cordões numa chapa de aço DP1000, variando a potência nominal de soldagem entre 0,4 e 2,0 kW e a velocidade de soldagem entre 20 e 150 mm/s. A caracterização microestrutural foi conduzida com o auxílio das técnicas de microscopia óptica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), difração de raios X (DRX) e difração de elétrons retroespalhados (EBSD). As juntas soldadas mais representativas foram submetidas a ensaios de dureza Vickers e tração uniaxial. Os resultados mostram que é possível produzir juntas soldadas resistentes no aço DP1000. Todavia, é fundamental que a combinação de parâmetros gere soldas com penetração total e mínima largura de ZAC, limitando a quantidade de amolecimento da martensita prévia e a fração volumétrica de austenita retida. Na presente Tese, os melhores resultados foram obtidos para uma potência de 2,0 kW e velocidade de 150 mm/s. / The development of modern vehicles has been driven by the need of mass reduction associated with the increase of the safety of passengers. In the search for new materials and processes to meet these requirements, ferritic-martensitic dual-phase (DP) steels are potential candidates among advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), because of their high mechanical strength and good ductility. In that sense, laser beam welding has been shown promising for joining this class of materials. This process allows joining DP steels with good metallurgical quality without large dimensional distortions. Although DP steels show good weldability, a localized softening in the heat affected zone (HAZ) is also observed, especially in DP1000 steel which contains large amounts of martensite. Thus, laser beam welding has been performed in DP1000 steel with thickness of 1.80 mm, followed by a systematic microstructural characterization, aiming at the production of resistant welded joints. For this, bead-on-plate welds were carried out in DP1000 steel, varying the welding power between 0.4 and 2.0 kW and the welding speed between 20 and 150 mm/s. The microstructural characterization was conducted with the aid of light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The most representative welded joints were tested for Vickers hardness and uniaxial tensile test. Results show that it is possible to produce sound and resistant welded joints in DP1000 steel. However, it is critical that the combination of parameters allows the obtainment of welds with full penetration and minimum HAZ width, limiting the amount of softening of prior martensite and the volume fraction of retained austenite. In the present Thesis, this was achieved using a power of 2.0 kW and a welding speed of 150 mm/s.

O aço de médio carbono e baixa liga SAE 4340 vem sofrendo diversas modificações e neste processo de desenvolvimento surgiu o aço 300M. O presente trabalho visa avaliar e comparar a microestrutura e a resistência mecânica dos aços SAE 4340 e 300M, submetidos ao processo de soldagem autógena a laser e em seguida a duas formas de tratamento: o revenimento pós-soldagem e a nitretação à plasma. Também é avaliado o efeito combinado dos tratamentos de revenimento e nitretação. Após soldagem, as chapas foram divididas nos lotes: como recebido, soldado, soldado e revenido, soldado e tratado superficialmente por nitretação a plasma e soldado, revenido e tratado superficialmente por nitretação a plasma. A partir desses lotes, foram obtidas amostras para análise microestrutural e produzidos corpos-de-prova para ensaios de tração. Os resultados mostraram que a presença de precipitados confere ao aço 300M maior resistência mecânica em relação ao aço 4340. Após a soldagem a laser, a zona fundida e zona termicamente afetada de ambos os materiais apresentaram fases diferentes das fases presentes no metal base, a zona fundida mostrou-se martensítica em sua maioria, e a zona termicamente afetada apresentou-se multifásica. Devido às dimensões reduzidas do cordão de solda, o comportamento em tração dos corpos-deprova soldados não diferiu significativamente dos corpos-de-prova produzidos com os materiais de base. O tratamento térmico de revenimento pós-soldagem promoveu queda na dureza da zona fundida em ambos os aços. Após a nitretação, os aços 4340 e 300M apresentaram aumento de dureza próximo às superfícies. O aço 4340 apresentou aumento na resistência mecânica sem perda significativa de ductilidade. Quando revenido e nitretado após a soldagem, o aço 4340 apresentou ligeira queda na resistência mecânica. A nitretação do aço 300M, com a temperatura e tempo escolhidos, levou à fragilização do material em ambas as situações (com e sem revenimento), resultando em uma piora significativa das propriedades mecânicas, o que indica que os parâmetros de nitretação para este aço devem ser revistos. / The high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel SAE 4340 has been modified over time giving raise to the 300M steel. This study intends to evaluate and compare the microstructure and the mechanical behavior of the steels SAE 4340 and 300M, after laser beam welding in one pass, followed by distinct treatment routes: tempering, plasma nitriding and tempering plus plasma nitriding. After welding, the plates were divided into five sets: as welded, welded and tempered, welded and plasma nitrided, welded and tempered and plasma nitrided. The samples for microstructural analyses and tensile tests were taken from these material conditions. The results revealed that the presence of precipitates allow higher mechanical strenght to the 300M steel compared to 4340 steel. The melted zone showed more fases if compared with base material, fase like martensite, and the heat affected zone presented a multiphase in your matrix. The melted zone in both materials suffered a hardness decreasing after tempering, although no microstructural changes were observed. After nitriding the 4340 and 300M steels showed a surface hardness increase. The 4340 steel showed an increase in tensile strenght without significant ductility loss. When tempered and nitrided after welding, the 4340 steel suffered a drop in its mechanical strenght. The 300M steel suffered an embrittlement after nitriding in both situations (with and without tempering), resulting in unsatisfactory mechanical properties. This indicates that improvements are needed in the plasma nitriding parameters for this steel.

Konventionelles Laserstrahlschweißen von Halbzeugen aus höherfesten Stahlfeinblechen führt zum drastischen Verlust an Umformbarkeit im Schweißnahtbereich. Durch integrierte induktive Erwärmung können der Temperaturverlauf beim Schweißen modifiziert, die Verbindungseigenschaften beeinflusst und die Umformbarkeit verbessert werden. Die Zusammenhänge zwischen Prozessparametern und mechanischen Verbindungseigenschaften werden beschrieben und Anwendungspotenziale aufgezeigt.

O desenvolvimento dos veículos atuais vem sendo impulsionado pela necessidade de redução de massa associada com o aumento da segurança para os passageiros. Na procura de novos materiais e processos para atender estas exigências, os aços bifásicos ferrítico-martensíticos ou DP vêm se destacando entre os aços avançados de alta resistência (AHSS), por apresentar elevada resistência mecânica e boa ductilidade. Da mesma forma, a soldagem a laser vem se mostrando promissora para junção desta classe de materiais. Este processo permite unir os aços DP com boa qualidade metalúrgica sem significativas distorções dimensionais. Embora os aços DP apresentem boa soldabilidade, um amolecimento localizado na zona afetada pelo calor (ZAC) também é observado, especialmente no aço DP1000, que apresenta elevada fração de martensita. Desta forma, esta Tese propõe a soldagem a laser do aço DP1000 de espessura 1,80 mm, seguida de uma sistemática caracterização microestrutural, visando a produção de juntas soldadas suficientemente resistentes. Para isto, foram produzidos cordões numa chapa de aço DP1000, variando a potência nominal de soldagem entre 0,4 e 2,0 kW e a velocidade de soldagem entre 20 e 150 mm/s. A caracterização microestrutural foi conduzida com o auxílio das técnicas de microscopia óptica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), difração de raios X (DRX) e difração de elétrons retroespalhados (EBSD). As juntas soldadas mais representativas foram submetidas a ensaios de dureza Vickers e tração uniaxial. Os resultados mostram que é possível produzir juntas soldadas resistentes no aço DP1000. Todavia, é fundamental que a combinação de parâmetros gere soldas com penetração total e mínima largura de ZAC, limitando a quantidade de amolecimento da martensita prévia e a fração volumétrica de austenita retida. Na presente Tese, os melhores resultados foram obtidos para uma potência de 2,0 kW e velocidade de 150 mm/s. / The development of modern vehicles has been driven by the need of mass reduction associated with the increase of the safety of passengers. In the search for new materials and processes to meet these requirements, ferritic-martensitic dual-phase (DP) steels are potential candidates among advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), because of their high mechanical strength and good ductility. In that sense, laser beam welding has been shown promising for joining this class of materials. This process allows joining DP steels with good metallurgical quality without large dimensional distortions. Although DP steels show good weldability, a localized softening in the heat affected zone (HAZ) is also observed, especially in DP1000 steel which contains large amounts of martensite. Thus, laser beam welding has been performed in DP1000 steel with thickness of 1.80 mm, followed by a systematic microstructural characterization, aiming at the production of resistant welded joints. For this, bead-on-plate welds were carried out in DP1000 steel, varying the welding power between 0.4 and 2.0 kW and the welding speed between 20 and 150 mm/s. The microstructural characterization was conducted with the aid of light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The most representative welded joints were tested for Vickers hardness and uniaxial tensile test. Results show that it is possible to produce sound and resistant welded joints in DP1000 steel. However, it is critical that the combination of parameters allows the obtainment of welds with full penetration and minimum HAZ width, limiting the amount of softening of prior martensite and the volume fraction of retained austenite. In the present Thesis, this was achieved using a power of 2.0 kW and a welding speed of 150 mm/s.

Konventionelles Laserstrahlschweißen von Halbzeugen aus höherfesten Stahlfeinblechen führt zum drastischen Verlust an Umformbarkeit im Schweißnahtbereich. Durch integrierte induktive Erwärmung können der Temperaturverlauf beim Schweißen modifiziert, die Verbindungseigenschaften beeinflusst und die Umformbarkeit verbessert werden. Die Zusammenhänge zwischen Prozessparametern und mechanischen Verbindungseigenschaften werden beschrieben und Anwendungspotenziale aufgezeigt.

Τα κριτήρια σχεδιασμού στις σύγχρονες κατασκευές και κυρίως στην αεροναυπηγική και ναυπηγική βιομηχανία, στοχεύουν στην παραγωγή δομικών στοιχείων με μειωμένο βάρος και χαμηλότερο κόστος, ενώ ταυτόχρονα, απαιτείται να παρουσιάζουν υψηλότερες επιδόσεις και ικανοποιητική δομική ασφάλεια. Οι στόχοι αυτοί έχουν διαμορφώσει μια σχεδιαστική τάση η οποία οδηγεί στην αντικατάσταση των ‘παραδοσιακών’ διαφορικών δομών (differential structures) με ‘σύγχρονες’ ολοκληρωμένες δομές (integral structures). Η τάση αυτή βρίσκει εφαρμογή κατά κύριο λόγο στην αεροναυπηγική, όπου η μείωση του βάρους χωρίς υποβάθμιση της ασφαλούς λειτουργίας αποτελεί βασικό και μόνιμο στόχο. Η αυξημένη παραγωγή δομικών στοιχείων ολοκληρωμένων δομών έχει οδηγήσει σε συνεχή αύξηση της εφαρμογής διεργασιών συνένωσης με έμφαση στις προηγμένες διεργασίες συγκόλλησης. Οι διεργασίας συγκόλλησης οι οποίες, λόγω των πλεονεκτημάτων τους, βρίσκονται στην αιχμή της τεχνολογίας είναι η Συγκόλληση με Τριβή και Ανάμιξη (Friction Stir Welding – FSW) και η Συγκόλληση με Ακτίνα Λέιζερ (Laser Beam Welding – LBW). Η εφαρμογή συγκολλήσεων στην παραγωγή ολοκληρωμένων δομών έχει πολλά τεχνολογικά πλεονεκτήματα έναντι των άλλων τύπων σύνδεσης, ωστόσο, συνοδεύονται από την ανάπτυξη Παραμενουσών Τάσεων και στρεβλώσεων στο τελικό προϊόν, κάτι το οποίο, ανάλογα με την εφαρμογή, μπορεί να προκαλέσει σημαντικά προβλήματα. Συγκεκριμένα, οι στρεβλώσεις επηρεάζουν τη λειτουργικότητα του δομικού στοιχείου, αφού μεταβάλλουν την γεωμετρία του, ενώ οι παραμένουσες τάσεις, αναπροσαρμόζοντας το εσωτερικό εντατικό πεδίο, επιδρούν στη δομική τους ακεραιότητα. Όπως είναι γνωστό με κατάλληλη επιλογή των παραμέτρων της διεργασίας (π.χ. ταχύτητα συγκόλλησης, ισχύς κτλ) μπορεί να επιτευχθεί μείωση των αναπτυσσόμενων παραμενουσών τάσεων και στρεβλώσεων. Επίσης, τα τελευταία χρόνια έχει αποδειχθεί ότι η προσομοίωση μιας διεργασίας συγκόλλησης μπορεί να βοηθήσει σημαντικά στην επιλογή του βέλτιστου συνδυασμού των παραμέτρων της. Για το λόγο αυτό, μεγάλο μέρος της ερευνητικής δραστηριότητας στην περιοχή των προηγμένων διεργασιών συγκόλλησης έχει στραφεί προς την ανάπτυξη αξιόπιστων μεθοδολογιών προσομοίωσης, οι οποίες με δεδομένο (input data) τις παραμέτρους της διεργασίας μπορούν να δώσουν σαν αποτέλεσμα (output data) κρίσιμες απαντήσεις όσον αφορά στις τεχνολογικές ιδιότητες της συγκόλλησης. Βάσει των ανωτέρω, σκοπός της παρούσης διατριβής είναι η ανάπτυξη ολοκληρωμένων μεθόδων θερμομηχανικής προσομοίωσης των προηγμένων διεργασιών συγκόλλησης FSW και LBW με κύριο στόχο την πρόβλεψη των παραμενουσών τάσεων και των στρεβλώσεων καθώς και τη μελέτη της επίδρασης τους στη δομική ακεραιότητα των παραγόμενων δομικών στοιχείων. Ένα από τα σημαντικότερα και ίσως το κρισιμότερο στάδιο κατά την προσομοίωση μιας θερμομηχανικής διεργασίας είναι η εξομοίωση της θερμικής πηγής και ο υπολογισμός του θερμικού φορτίου, γιατί μια εσφαλμένη εκτίμηση του θερμικού φορτίου προκαλεί λανθασμένη πρόβλεψη της θερμοκρασιακής κατανομής και κατά συνέπεια εισάγει σφάλματα στον υπολογισμό των παραμενουσών τάσεων και των στρεβλώσεων. Στη βάση αυτή, τόσο για την περίπτωση της FSW όσο και για την LBW αναπτύχθηκαν μεθοδολογίες για τον προσδιορισμό των θερμικών πηγών τους και συνοδεύτηκαν από θερμικά μοντέλα για την πρόβλεψη του θερμοκρασιακού ιστορικού. Ακολούθως, το θερμοκρασιακό ιστορικό ασκείται υπό τη μορφή εξωτερικού φορτίου σε ένα θερμομηχανικό μοντέλο από όπου υπολογίζονται οι παραμένουσες τάσεις και οι στρεβλώσεις της διεργασίας. Τέλος, η εσωτερική εντατική κατάσταση του συγκολλημένου δομικού στοιχείου συνυπολογίζεται στο εντατικό πεδίο λόγω της φόρτισης λειτουργίας της κατασκευής και γίνεται πρόβλεψη των συντελεστών έντασης τάσης (Stress Intensity Factors - SIFs ) έτσι ώστε να εκτιμηθεί η επίδρασης της συγκόλλησης στη δομική ακεραιότητα. Τόσο το θερμομηχανικό όσο και το θραυστομηχανικό μοντέλο μπορούν να προσαρμοσθούν σε πολλούς διαφορετικούς τύπους σύνδεσης και ρηγμάτωσης, αντίστοιχα. / The design criteria in modern structures aim to the production of components with reduced weight and low cost, as well as, with higher performance and increased safety. The above goals lead to a tendency of replacing traditional differential structures with more modern integral structure, mainly in aeronautic sector where the weight and cost reduction, without decrease of safety, comprises the main target of the current research effort. The production of integral structures requires the adaptation of existing forming processes as well as the development and optimization of advanced welding processes. The most promising welding processes in aeronautics and maritime industries currently are the Friction Stir Welding–FSW and Laser Beam Welding-LBW. Despite of the many technological advantages of FSW and LBW process, their application in the production of integral structures leads to the development of Residual Stress (RS) and distortion fields which can cause significant problems. Specifically, distortions can effect on the components assembly, while, RS affect the structural integrity. However, an appropriate selection of process parameters can significantly reduce the RS and distortions levels. The usual way to optimize process parameters is experimental trial and error approach; recently, process simulation has been proven efficient, too. The present work aims to the development of efficient methodologies for the thermomechanical simulation of FSW and LBW processes in order to predict temperature history, as wells as RS and distortion fields. Consequently, the RS field is used for the determination of the welding effects on the structural integrity of the welded component. Generally, the reliability of a simulation methodology of any thermo-mechanical process, such as welding, is seriously affected by many parameters; two of them are very base, namely, the accurate determination of the heat input introduced to the material (thermal load) and the accurate representation of thermal and mechanical boundary conditions. As the boundary conditions determined by the welder and it is usually easy to transfer in a numerical model, one of the most difficult simulation issues is the appropriate determination of the heat input which will lead to an accurate prediction of the material temperature history. For this reason, one of the main objectives of the present work is to develop methodologies for the accurate thermal load calculation in both FSW and LBW processes. After the validation of the developed methodologies with respect to experimental measurements, the defined heat sources are used in global thermal models in order to predict the temperature histories which, thereinafter, are introduced in the thermo-mechanical models to predict the developed RS and distortion fields. Finally, the structural integrity of the welded component, under the effect of both RS field and service loading is studied; different possible ‘fracture scenarios’ are investigated based on the Stress Intensity Factor concept and the Elastic Fracture Mechanics principles.

Laser is an efficient and widely used heat source in metal processing suchas welding and additive manufacturing. It has some great advantages compared to the other conventional heat sources like electron beam and arc namely: ability of handling complicated joint geometries and producing large components. Laser beam welding encompasses many complex physical phenomena such asheat transfer, metal melting, flow and solidification, free surface deformation, evaporation and possibly vaporization. The aim of this research work istwo-fold: gain deeper process understanding and improve the model reliability. Deeper process understanding is sought on the effect of beam shaping on themelt pool. To achieve improved model reliability, a good support consists in using qualitative experimental data representing the process. Thus, 3D validation of the melt pool geometry is performed while it was usually 2D inprevious research works. Furthermore, a new calculation procedure for laser absorption is introduced. To conduct this research work, a Computational Fluid Dynamics approach is used. A solver, capable of tracking the deformation of the melt free surface, is developed in OpenFOAM. Concerning beam shaping, it is found that not only the melt pool size as previously known but also the melt flow pattern is modified through elongating the beam shape.This last result could not be revealed by former studies as the non-transparent media hinders optical observation. New in-process quantitative measurements performed by a project partner are used to test the model. Weaknesses of the former absorptivity models are highlighted, as well as the limitations of the proposed model. Finally, the results show that the proposed absorptivity model function of local surface conditions leads to much better agreement with experimental results compared to the former constant absorptivity model. The maximum discrepancy compared to the experimental measurement, which is observed for the melt pool depth, can indeed be reduced to about 10%. / Laser är en effektiv och allmänt använd värmekälla vid svetsning och additiv tillverkning. Den har några viktiga fördelar jämfört med andra konventionella värmekällor såsom elektronstråle och elektrisk ljusbåge, nämligen: den kan ofta användas till komplicerade svetsgeometrier, och den kan producera stora komponenter. Lasersvetsning involverar olika sammansatta fysikaliska fenomen såsom värmeöverföring, metallsmältning, flöde, stelning, ytdeformation, avdunstning och i vissa fall förångning. Syftet med mitt forskningsarbete är tvåfaldigt: att få en djupare processförståelse och att förbättra modellens tillförlitlighet. Fördjupad processförståelse eftersträvades för att förstå hur formen på laserstrålen påverkar svetssmältan. För att uppnå förbättrad modellsäkerhet behövs experimentella data av hög kvalitet som representerar processen. Således utfördes 3D-validering av smältgeometrin medan det vanligtvis var 2D i tidigare forskningsarbeten. Dessutom har en ny modell för laserabsorption föreslagits. I forskningen har numerisk strömningssimulering (Computational Fluid Dynamics) använts för att simulera processen och en numerisk lösare, som kan spåra deformationen av den rörliga smälta ytan, är utveckladi programvaran OpenFOAM. Beträffande laserstrålens utbredning visar resultaten att svetssmältans storlek och även svetssmältansflöde modifieras genom att laserstråleformen förlängs. Medan den förra är känd från tidigare experimentella studier upptäcktes den senare inte före denna studie eftersomdet icke-transparenta mediet hindrar optisk observation. Nya (in-process) kvantitativa mätningar utförda av en projektpartner har använts för att testa modellerna. Svagheter i den tidigare absorptionsmodellen framhävdes, liksom begränsningarna i den föreslagna modellen. Slutligen visade resultaten att den föreslagna modellen där laserabsorptionen är en funktion av lokala ytförhållanden ledde till en bättre overensstämmelse med mätningar jämfört med den tidigare modellen med konstant laserabsorbtion. Den maximala avvikelsen jämfört med experimentell mätning, som observerades med avseende på smältbassängsdjupet, kunde reduceras till cirka 10%. / <p>Till licentiatuppsats hör 2 inskickade artiklar, som inte visas nu.</p>

The present dissertation reports the findings of a study of cracking behavior of a newly developed superalloy, Allvac 718Plus during high power beam welding and post-weld heat treatment. Microstructures of the base alloy, heat affected zone (HAZ) and fusion zone (FZ) of welded and post-weld heat treated (PWHT) coupons were examined by the use of standard metallographic techniques involving optical microscopy, analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analytical transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, grain boundary segregation behavior of boron atoms during pre-weld heat treatments was evaluated using secondary ion mass spectroscopic system. In the first phase of the research, 718Plus was welded using a low and high heat input CO2 laser to assess its weld cracking response. Detailed examination of the welds by analytical electron microscopic technique revealed the occurrence of cracking in the HAZ of low heat input welds, while their FZ was crack free. However, both the FZ and HAZ of high heat input welds were crack-free. Resolidified constituents were observed along the cracked grain boundaries of the lower heat input welds, which indicated that HAZ cracking in this newly developed superalloy was associated with grain boundary liquation. However, despite a more extensive liquation of grain boundaries and grain interior in the HAZ of high heat input welds, no cracking occurred. This was attributed to the combination of lower welding stresses generated during cooling, and relaxation of these stresses by thick intergranular liquid. Although HAZ cracking was prevented by welding with a high heat input laser, it resulted in a significant damage to the parent microstructure through its extensive liquation. Thus, the use of low heat input welding is desirable. However, this resulted in HAZ cracking which needs to be minimized or eliminated. Therefore, during the second phase of this research, the effects of pre-weld thermal processing on the cracking response of 718Plus were investigated. Results from the quantification of the cracking of the alloy showed that HAZ cracking may be significantly reduced or eliminated through an adequate selection of pre-weld thermal cycle. In the third stage of this research, crack-free welds of 718Plus were post-weld heat treated using standard thermal schedules. A significant solid state cracking of the alloy occurred during the PWHT. The cracking was attributed to the presence of embrittling phases on HAZ grain boundaries, coupled with aging contraction stresses that are generated by a considerable precipitation of gamma prime phase during aging.

The present dissertation reports the findings of a study of cracking behavior of a newly developed superalloy, Allvac 718Plus during high power beam welding and post-weld heat treatment. Microstructures of the base alloy, heat affected zone (HAZ) and fusion zone (FZ) of welded and post-weld heat treated (PWHT) coupons were examined by the use of standard metallographic techniques involving optical microscopy, analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analytical transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, grain boundary segregation behavior of boron atoms during pre-weld heat treatments was evaluated using secondary ion mass spectroscopic system. In the first phase of the research, 718Plus was welded using a low and high heat input CO2 laser to assess its weld cracking response. Detailed examination of the welds by analytical electron microscopic technique revealed the occurrence of cracking in the HAZ of low heat input welds, while their FZ was crack free. However, both the FZ and HAZ of high heat input welds were crack-free. Resolidified constituents were observed along the cracked grain boundaries of the lower heat input welds, which indicated that HAZ cracking in this newly developed superalloy was associated with grain boundary liquation. However, despite a more extensive liquation of grain boundaries and grain interior in the HAZ of high heat input welds, no cracking occurred. This was attributed to the combination of lower welding stresses generated during cooling, and relaxation of these stresses by thick intergranular liquid. Although HAZ cracking was prevented by welding with a high heat input laser, it resulted in a significant damage to the parent microstructure through its extensive liquation. Thus, the use of low heat input welding is desirable. However, this resulted in HAZ cracking which needs to be minimized or eliminated. Therefore, during the second phase of this research, the effects of pre-weld thermal processing on the cracking response of 718Plus were investigated. Results from the quantification of the cracking of the alloy showed that HAZ cracking may be significantly reduced or eliminated through an adequate selection of pre-weld thermal cycle. In the third stage of this research, crack-free welds of 718Plus were post-weld heat treated using standard thermal schedules. A significant solid state cracking of the alloy occurred during the PWHT. The cracking was attributed to the presence of embrittling phases on HAZ grain boundaries, coupled with aging contraction stresses that are generated by a considerable precipitation of gamma prime phase during aging.