Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / HY-130 is a high-strength, low-carbon steel used in the quenched and tempered condition . It is designed for high performance and marine applications where good weldability is a requirement. Optimum welding parameters are currently under investigation. In this study, 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) HY-130 steel weldments produced by submerged arc welding (SAW) and gas metal arc welding (GMAW) processes are compared by means of a systematic microstructural characterization of the base metal, weld metal, and heat affected zone (HAZ). The microstructures are characterized by optical and electron micro­scopy and microhardness measurements are performed in the weld metal and across the HAZ to relate the microstructure with the microhardness profiles. The weld metal microstructure of both weldments showed a predominantly martensitic structure. The GMAW weld metal had a finer lath martensite structure and contained more retained austenite and twinned martensite. The SAW weld metal had a less defined lath structure which was more bainitic. The microhardness values were higher in the GMAW weld metal. No significant differences in microstructure and hardness were observed in the HAZ of the two weldments. / http://archive.org/details/effectofweldingp00mcnu / Captain, Canadian Forces

Dans le domaine aéronautique la réduction du ratio buy to fly pour les pièces de structure est devenue un enjeu majeur. Il s'agit de développer, à coût matière réduit, des appareils consommant moins de carburant tout en proposant une autonomie et une capacité de transport plus importantes. Ce travail de recherche s'inscrit dans cette problématique industrielle, et accompagne Airbus dans le développement du procédé de soudage par faisceau d'électrons de tôles en alliage TA6V dans le but de concurrencer (en proposant une diminution du ratio buy to fly) les procédés classiques de forgeage/matriçage des pièces de structure. Toutefois, le soudage du TA6V, malgré un traitement thermique de détensionnement, conduit à une hétérogénéité de microstructure caractérisée par l'apparition de très fines lamelles de phase α associées à une diminution de la résistance à la propagation de fissures dans la zone soudée par rapport à celle du matériau de base. Ce gradient de propriétés mécaniques est acceptable pour l'application souhaitée, néanmoins, pour étendre ce procédé d'assemblage à d'autres pièces de structure un Traitement Thermique Post-Soudage (TTPS) est envisagé. On vise ainsi à atteindre, dans l'intégralité de la tôle soudée, un meilleur compromis entre la résistance à la propagation de fissure et les propriétés en statique. Dans ce travail de thèse, des lignes de fusion ont été réalisées par la société Airbus sur des tôles laminées d'épaisseurs 12mm présentant une microstructure biphasée α+β soit équiaxe (dite recuit α-β), soit lamellaire (dite recuit β). La caractérisation de chacune des microstructures et des propriétés mécaniques (via des essais de traction, de résilience et de propagation de fissure en fatigue) de la zone de fusion et du matériau de base a permis d'appréhender les mécanismes d'endommagement de l'alliage soudé. Les résultats macroscopiques des essais mécaniques associés à l'étude des faciès de rupture et des chemins de propagation de fissure ont par ailleurs révélé, pour chacune des microstructures impliquées (recuit α-β et recuit β), une importante anisotropie des propriétés mécaniques et de fortes hétérogénéités de comportement mécanique dans l'épaisseur de la tôle. La caractérisation de la microtexture par analyses EBSD de ces matériaux a mis en exergue la présence de nombreuses macrozones contribuant aux hétérogénéités observées. Le développement d'un Traitement Thermique Post-Soudage (TTPS) à partir de l'état recuit β soudé ne permet pas d'aboutir à des propriétés mécaniques statiques satisfaisantes dans la tôle à cause d'un grossissement excessif des ex-grains β. C'est pourquoi, un TTPS à partir de l'état recuit α-β soudé a été envisagé afin d'homogénéiser la microstructure et d'améliorer la résistance à la propagation de fissure de l'ensemble de la tôle soudée. Finalement, une optimisation du TTPS est proposée en considérant le passage de l'échelle du laboratoire à l'échelle industrielle. Les caractérisations microstructurales et mécaniques après TTPS ont par la suite été confrontées aux résultats obtenus sur le matériau recuit β, ce qui a permis de comprendre les avantages et les limites du TTPS choisi. / In the aeronautic industry, the reduction of the « buy-to-fly » ration for structural parts has become a major issue. The goal is to develop planes, at a reduced material cost, requiring less fuel with an extended range and higher load capacity. This research study has been designed with the Airbus Company in order to contribute to solve this industrial problem. In particular, the development of the electron beam welding process of the β annealed titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V should concurrence the usual forging/pressing processes of structural parts. However, welding of Ti-6Al-4V, despite a stress relieving heat treatment, lead to a microstructural heterogeneity between the welded zone and the base metal and, as a consequence, to an heterogeneity of the mechanical properties. In comparison to the crack propagation resistance of the base metal, the one measured fusion zone is weaker and is associated to the presence of very thin α platelets. This mechanical properties gradient remains acceptable for the industrial purpose, nevertheless, in order to extend the use of the electron beam welding process to other structural parts, a Post-Welding Heat Treatment (PWHT) is considered. The aim is to achieve, in the entire welded plate, a better compromise between the crack propagation resistance and the static properties. In this PhD work, fusion lines were performed by the Airbus company on two rolled plates of biphasic α+β Ti-6Al-4V presenting either a lamellar microstructure (also called β annealed) or an equiaxe microstructure (also called α-β annealed). Characterizations of the microstructures involved as well as the mechanical properties helped to understand the failure mechanisms of the welded alloy. The analysis of the different test revealed, thanks to the observation of the crack propagation path on the Charpy specimens, that the very thin α platelets in the fusion zone do not act as a strong barrier against the crack propagation. On the contrary, in the case of the β annealed base metal, the α platelets are thick enough (1µm) to be an obstacle and to slow down the crack. In this case, the crack undergoes many deviations at the α/β interfaces, generating a very long and tortuous crack path. In order to improve the mechanical properties of the fusion zone, it seems appropriate to apply a PWHT, which will transform the microstructure and increase the thickness of the α platelets in the fusion zone. This PWHT consists mainly in a treatment in the β field followed by a controlled cooling rate. However, even if the PWHT applied on the β annealed and welded material lead to a thickening of the α platelets and improve the crack propagation resistance in the fusion zone, a strong enlargement of the prior β grain in the base metal is responsible of low tensile properties. That is why, a PWHT applied on the α-β annealed material is considered in order to homogenize simultaneously the microstructure in both fusion zone and base metal and improve the mechanical in the entire welded plate. Results obtained from the Charpy tests underline that the PWHT applied on the α-β annealed and welded material lead to homogeneous fracture energies in the plate, and to an higher fracture energy after PWHT than the one in the fusion zone of the β annealed material, which fulfill the initial industrial goal. An important anisotropy of the mechanical properties as well as important fluctuations of these properties in t he thickness of the plates has also been observed. The EBSD analyses of the crystallographic microtexture revealed the presence of numerous macrozones responsible of the heterogeneities observed for both microstructures.

Grade 91 (Gr.91) is a common structural material used in boiler applications and is favored due to its high temperature creep strength and oxidation resistance. Under cyclic stresses, the material will experience creep deformation eventually causing the propagation of type IV cracks within its heat-affected-zone (HAZ) which can be a major problem under short-term and long-term applications. In this study, we aim to improve this premature failure by performing a computational thermodynamic study through the Calculation of Phase Diagram (CALPHAD) approach. Under this approach, we have provided a baseline study as well as simulations based on additional alloying elements such as manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and titanium (Ti). Our simulation results have concluded that high concentrations of Mn and Ni had destabilized M23C6 for short-term creep failure, while Ti had increased the beneficial MX phase, and low concentrations of nitrogen (N) had successfully destabilized Z-phase formation for long-term creep failure.

In the present study, the applicability of the hybrid plasma arc welding, in which a keyhole is responsible of deep penetration and a filler wire electrode supplies a high deposition rate, was examined. The microstructural evolutions in grade 2205 duplex stainless steel plates joined by keyhole and melt-in techniques were investigated. The specimens obtained from welded plates having thickness of 8 mm were examined via optical and scanning electron microscopy. Metallographic investigations were supported by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersed spectra analyses by characterizing the phases formed after welding. Impact toughness properties, hardness profiles, and crack propagation behavior of welding zones were quantitatively and qualitatively compared for mechanical characterization. Fracture characteristics were determined via scanning electron microscopy examinations. It was observed that single-pass HPA weldment seemed to be free of secondary austenite precipitation in acicular form, which is inevitable in multi-pass conventional arc welding methods. Besides &delta / -ferrite was successfully kept under 70%, which is presented as a limit to not to deteriorate the mechanical properties of DSS. High linear welding speed and high power density supplied by HPAW presented narrower weld metal and heat affected zone with not only lower hardness but also higher impact toughness energies. Synergic effect of the keyhole formed by a plasma arc and the metal transfer supplied by gas metal arc gave reasonable dilution in the weld metal. Furthermore, fatigue crack growth tests revealed that crack propagation rates in HPAW joints were comparable to GMAW joints.