Welding of Steels

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2019) | Viewed by 69312

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Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials and Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
Interests: fatigue and fracture behavior of materials; mechanical characterization; structural integrity of conventional and innovative materials
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Dear Colleagues,

Steels are still an undisputable material for many of constructions made today. Both stainless and ordinary C-Mn steels have developed significantly over the last few years, as a response to new demands for strength, corrosion resistance, etc., for a more sustainable future. However, to make effective use of these steels, they need to be weldable. This Special Issue will deal with welding of modern steels, both newer steels and application of new welding techniques for the lower strength levels as well as new very high strength steels. It will also cover welding of stainless steels, with its multitude of alloys.

Significant research is going on around the world about welding of these new steels, in terms of steel design, consumable design and welding techniques, which need to be highlighted. Papers on experimental investigations as well as numerical analyses are welcome to illustrate the progress made within this field.

Prof. Dr. Filippo Berto


Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Welding
  • High strength steels
  • Stainless steels
  • New alloys
  • Metallurgy
  • Welding techniques

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3181 KiB  
Article
Numerical Investigation on Ultimate Compressive Strength of Welded Stiffened Plates Built by Steel Grades of S235–S390
by Chenfeng Li, Sen Dong, Tingce Wang, Weijun Xu and Xueqian Zhou
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(10), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9102088 - 21 May 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4308
Abstract
The welded stiffened plate is widely used in naval architecture and offshore engineering as a basic structural member. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of welding residual stress and steel grade on the ultimate strength of stiffened plates under [...] Read more.
The welded stiffened plate is widely used in naval architecture and offshore engineering as a basic structural member. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of welding residual stress and steel grade on the ultimate strength of stiffened plates under uniaxial compressive load by non-linear finite element analysis. Nineteen stiffened plates built with three types of stiffeners with various column slenderness ratios provided in the ISSC’2000 VI.2 benchmark calculations are employed in the present study. The commercial finite element code ABAQUS is applied to simulate the collapse behavior of the stiffened plates and verified against the benchmark calculations. Fabrication-related imperfections, such as initial deflections and residual stresses, are accounted for in the simulations. The ultimate strength of stiffened plates built in common shipbuilding steels, namely S235, S315, S355 and S390, are investigated by varying the yield strength of materials in the simulation. Analysis of the numerical results shows that the welding residual stress reduces the ultimate strength of stiffened plates, and increase in yield strength of the material can effectively improve the ultimate strength of common ship stiffened plates; and quantitative analyses of their influences have also been performed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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12 pages, 7841 KiB  
Article
A New Plasma Surface Alloying to Improve the Wear Resistance of the Metallic Card Clothing
by Dongbo Wei, Fengkun Li, Shuqin Li, Xiaohu Chen, Feng Ding, Pingze Zhang and Zhangzhong Wang
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(9), 1849; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9091849 - 06 May 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2343
Abstract
A new surface strengthening process: Plasma surface chromizing was implemented on the metallic card clothing to improve its wear resistance based on double glow plasma surface metallurgy technology. A chromizing coating was prepared in the process, which consisted of a deposited layer and [...] Read more.
A new surface strengthening process: Plasma surface chromizing was implemented on the metallic card clothing to improve its wear resistance based on double glow plasma surface metallurgy technology. A chromizing coating was prepared in the process, which consisted of a deposited layer and diffusion layer. The surface morphologies, microstructure, phase composition, and hardness were analyzed in detail. The friction behaviors of the metallic card clothing before and after plasma surface alloying were comparatively analyzed under various sliding speeds at room temperature. The results showed that: 1. The chromizing coating on the surface of metallic card clothing was dense and homogeneous without defects, and the metallic card clothing still maintained its integrity and sharpness. 2. The chromizing coating consist of [Fe,Cr], Cr, Cr23C6, and Cr7C3, which contribute to the high hardness. 3. The average microhardness of metallic card clothing increased from 365.4 HV0.05 to 564.9 HV0.05 after plasma surface chromizing. Nano hardness of the chromizing coating was approximately 1.87 times than the metallic card clothing. 4. At various sliding velocities of 2 m/min, 4 m/min, and 6 m/min, the specific wear rates of metallic card clothing were 16.38, 9.06 and 6.26 × 10−4·mm3·N−1·m−1, and the specific wear rates of metallic card clothing after plasma surface chromizing were 2.91, 3.30, and 2.95 × 10−4·mm3·N−1·m−1. Furthermore, the wear mechanism of the chromizing coating gradually changed from adhesive wear to abrasive wear as the sliding velocity increased. The results indicate that the wear resistance of metallic card clothing was improved obviously after plasma surface chromizing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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17 pages, 8370 KiB  
Article
Metallurgical Effects of Niobium and Molybdenum on Heat-Affected Zone Toughness in Low-Carbon Steel
by Hardy Mohrbacher
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(9), 1847; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9091847 - 05 May 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5729
Abstract
Modern weldable high strength steel grades are typically based on low-carbon alloy concepts using microalloying for obtaining a good strength-toughness balance. Such steel grades having a yield strength in the range of 420 to 690 MPa are very commonly used in pipelines, heavy [...] Read more.
Modern weldable high strength steel grades are typically based on low-carbon alloy concepts using microalloying for obtaining a good strength-toughness balance. Such steel grades having a yield strength in the range of 420 to 690 MPa are very commonly used in pipelines, heavy vehicles, shipbuilding and general structural applications. Thermomechanical processing during hot rolling combined with accelerated cooling is an established means of producing such steel grades. Considering the alloying concepts, the use of niobium and molybdenum, and in selected cases boron, is very efficient to achieve high strength and good toughness. However, all targeted applications of such high strength steels involve extensive welding. Thus, heat affected zone properties are of particular importance. The present paper investigates the effects of Nb, Mo and Ti on the heat affected zone properties. Variations of the Mn and Si contents are considered as well. Additionally, the influence of post-weld heat treatment in the coarse-grained heat-affected zone (HAZ) is considered. In this approach, HAZ subzones were generated using laboratory weld cycle simulations in combination with systematic variation of alloying elements to scrutinize and interpret their specific effects. The results indicate that Mo and Nb, when alloyed in the typical range, provide excellent HAZ toughness and guarantee sufficiently low ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. An alloy combination of Nb, Mo and Ti improves performance under hot deformation conditions and toughness after post-weld heat treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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20 pages, 16705 KiB  
Article
Filler Metal Mixing Behaviour of 10 mm Thick Stainless Steel Butt-Joint Welds Produced with Laser-Arc Hybrid and Laser Cold-Wire Processes
by Miikka Karhu, Veli Kujanpää, Harri Eskelinen and Antti Salminen
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(8), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9081685 - 24 Apr 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4407
Abstract
In thick section laser welding, filler metal addition is usually required to improve joint fit-up tolerances or to control the chemical composition of the weld metal. With deep and narrow welds produced using an over-alloyed filler metal, it may be challenging to ensure [...] Read more.
In thick section laser welding, filler metal addition is usually required to improve joint fit-up tolerances or to control the chemical composition of the weld metal. With deep and narrow welds produced using an over-alloyed filler metal, it may be challenging to ensure that the filler metal and its elements are homogeneously mixed and evenly distributed throughout the fusion zone. Inhomogeneous filler metal mixing can cause unfavourable changes to weld metal chemistry and microstructure. Filler metal mixing behaviour in laser-arc hybrid and laser cold-wire welding is studied in this work. Welding tests were conducted on 10 mm thick butt-welded joints of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel. An overmatching type 2205 duplex stainless steel filler wire was used to obtain a composition contrast between the base metal and filler metal. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) with chromium as the trace element was used for element mapping and stepwise characterization of the weld cross-section samples. Optical metallography was used to observe possible inhomogeneous filler metal mixing behaviour like local acute changes in macro- and microstructural features. The results showed a clear difference in filler metal mixing between the weld surface part (upper half) of the weld and the weld root part (lower half) in 10 mm thick welded cross-sections for closed root gap of I-groove welds or when the gap was only 0.4 mm. In narrow I-groove preparations, inhomogeneous mixing phenomena were more pronounced in laser cold-wire welds than in laser-arc hybrid welds. In both welding processes, a combination of trailing wire feeding and the use of a wider groove enabled filler metal to be introduced deeper into the bottom of the groove and improved mixing in the root portion of the welds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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18 pages, 8609 KiB  
Article
The Resistance of Welded Joints of Galvanized RHS Trusses with Different Vent Hole Geometries
by Miguel A. Serrano, Carlos López-Colina, Fernando L. Gayarre, Tim Wilkinson and Jesús Suárez
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(8), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9081553 - 15 Apr 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4032
Abstract
A worldwide-accepted technique to protect steel lattice girders with welded hollow sections against corrosion is the hot-dip galvanizing process. In this process, vent holes are required in braces to fill the inner part protecting them from corrosion, to allow the immersion of the [...] Read more.
A worldwide-accepted technique to protect steel lattice girders with welded hollow sections against corrosion is the hot-dip galvanizing process. In this process, vent holes are required in braces to fill the inner part protecting them from corrosion, to allow the immersion of the structure in the zinc bath and to recover the excess fluid after the bath. The cross-section reduction due to the vent hole could lead to a decrease in the effective brace resistance; this is not easily quantified, because there are neither prescriptions nor recommendations in the design codes to assess this effect. Therefore, the hollow structural sections could be underutilized due to doubts regarding the safety of this type of joint. This research was conducted in order to categorize different geometries and positions of vent holes in order to determine the best in terms of joint efficiency. A validated finite element model considering welds on lattice girders joints was extended to take into account different vent hole shapes. This research concludes that the presence of ventilation holes such as the ones considered in this study does not significantly affect the joint resistance, and that all the analyzed hole shapes could be proposed as a valid solution for machining vent holes. The conclusions drawn up from this work could be useful for structural steel designers, providing them with valuable design recommendations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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10 pages, 2213 KiB  
Article
Fracture Assessment of Weld Joints of High-Strength Steel in Pre-Strained Condition
by Gyubaek An, Jeongung Park, Mituru Ohata and Fumiyoshi Minami
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(7), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9071306 - 28 Mar 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3322
Abstract
Unstable fractures tend to occur after ductile crack initiation or propagation. In most collapsed steel structures, a maximum 15% pre-strain was recorded, at the steel structural connections, during the great earthquake of 1995, in Japan. Almost-unstable fractures were observed in the beam-to-column connections, [...] Read more.
Unstable fractures tend to occur after ductile crack initiation or propagation. In most collapsed steel structures, a maximum 15% pre-strain was recorded, at the steel structural connections, during the great earthquake of 1995, in Japan. Almost-unstable fractures were observed in the beam-to-column connections, where geometrical discontinuities existed. Structural collapse and unstable failure occurred after large-scale plastic deformations. Ship structures can also suffer from unstable fractures in the welded joints. The fracture resistance of butt-welded joints subjected to tension in the pre-strained condition was estimated by considering the toughness deterioration, due to pre-strain and toughness correction for constraint loss in a tension specimen. The target specimen for this fracture assessment was a double-edged, through-thickness crack panel, with a crack in the weld joint (heat-affected zone (HAZ)). The critical fracture toughness value (crack tip opening displacement (CTOD)) of a large structure with pre-strain, which was applied to the HAZ region, was estimated from a small-scale, pre-stained, three-point bend specimen. Fracture toughness values, evaluated by a CTOD test, were recently mandated for shipbuilding steel plates. The critical fracture toughness value is a very useful parameter to evaluate the safety of huge ship structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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18 pages, 7814 KiB  
Article
A New Approach to the Study of Multi-Pass Welds–Microstructure and Properties of Welded 20-mm-Thick Superduplex Stainless Steel
by Maria Asuncion Valiente Bermejo, Kjell Hurtig, Daniel Eyzop and Leif Karlsson
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(6), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9061050 - 13 Mar 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3197
Abstract
Type 2507 superduplex stainless steel 20 mm in thickness was multi-pass-welded with Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) processes. Recommended and higher arc energies and inter-pass temperatures were used. Thermal cycles were monitored using a recently developed procedure involving [...] Read more.
Type 2507 superduplex stainless steel 20 mm in thickness was multi-pass-welded with Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) processes. Recommended and higher arc energies and inter-pass temperatures were used. Thermal cycles were monitored using a recently developed procedure involving the successive instrumentation of the multi-pass welds, pass by pass, by addition of thermocouples in each weld pass. The repeatability of temperature measurements and survival rate of more than 90% of thermocouples confirmed the reliability of the procedure. Reheating by subsequent passes caused a progressive increase in the austenite content of the weld metal. The as-deposited GMAW passes with higher-than-recommended arc energy showed the lowest presence of nitrides. Therefore, the cooling rate—and not the time exposed at the critical temperature range—seems to be the key factor for nitride formation. The welding sequence layout also plays an important role in the distribution of secondary phases. A larger amount and concentration of secondary austenite and σ-phase was found for a larger number of subsequent passes in the immediate vicinity of a specific weld pass. The impact toughness exceeded requirements for all welds. Differences in absorbed energies were related to the amount of micro-inclusions found with the FCAW weld showing the lowest absorbed energies and highest amount of micro-inclusions. Pitting corrosion preferentially initiated in locations with secondary austenite and σ-phase. However, in the absence of these secondary phases, the HAZ containing nitrides was the weakest location where pitting initiated. The results of this work have implications on practical welding for superduplex stainless steels: the current recommendations on maximum arc energy should be revised for large thickness weldments, and the importance of the welding sequence layout on the formation of secondary phases should be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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18 pages, 13806 KiB  
Article
MAG Welding Tests of Modern High Strength Steels with Minimum Yield Strength of 700 MPa
by Teemu Lahtinen, Pedro Vilaça, Pasi Peura and Saara Mehtonen
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(5), 1031; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9051031 - 12 Mar 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5361
Abstract
The modern high strength steel plates have an excellent combination of strength and toughness based on micro-alloying and complex microstructure. Retaining this combination of properties in the weld zone is a major challenge for applications in high-demanding structural construction. This work investigates the [...] Read more.
The modern high strength steel plates have an excellent combination of strength and toughness based on micro-alloying and complex microstructure. Retaining this combination of properties in the weld zone is a major challenge for applications in high-demanding structural construction. This work investigates the weldability of three different modern high strength steel plates, with a thickness of 8 mm. Two of the test materials were produced by a thermo-mechanically controlled process (TMCP) and one by a quenching and tempering method (Q&T). Two-passes MAG (metal active gas) welding was used with four different heat inputs. The tests implemented on all the materials included tensile, hardness profiles (HV5), Charpy-V impact toughness tests, and microstructure analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM). For one of the TMCP steels, some extended tests were conducted to define how the tensile properties change along the weld line. These tests included tensile tests with digital image correlation (DIC), and 3-point bending tests. The most notable differences in mechanical properties of the welds between the materials were observed in Charpy-V impact toughness tests, mostly at the vicinity of the fusion line, with the Q&T steel more prone to embrittlement of the heat affected zone (HAZ) than the TMCP steels. Microstructural analysis revealed carbide concentration combined with coarse bainitic structures in HAZ of Q&T steel, explaining the more severe embrittlement. During the tensile tests, the DIC measurements have shown a strain localization in the softest region of the HAZ. Increasing the heat input resulted in earlier localization of the strain and less maximum strength. The tensile properties along the weld line were investigated in all welding conditions, and the results emphasize relevant and systematic differences of the yield strength at the transient zones near the start and end of the weld compared with the intermediate stationary domain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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15 pages, 6148 KiB  
Article
Correlation of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Metal Big Area Additive Manufacturing
by Benjamin Shassere, Andrzej Nycz, Mark W. Noakes, Christopher Masuo and Niyanth Sridharan
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(4), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9040787 - 23 Feb 2019
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 8223
Abstract
Metal Big Area Additive Manufacturing (MBAAM) is a novel wire-arc additive manufacturing method that uses a correction-based approach developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This approach is an integrated software method that minimizes the dynamic nature of welding and compensates for [...] Read more.
Metal Big Area Additive Manufacturing (MBAAM) is a novel wire-arc additive manufacturing method that uses a correction-based approach developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This approach is an integrated software method that minimizes the dynamic nature of welding and compensates for build height. The MBAAM process is used to fabricate simple geometry thin walled specimens, using a C-Mn steel weld wire, to investigate the scatter in mechanical properties and correlate them to the underlying microstructure. The uni-axial tensile tests show isotropic tensile and yield properties with respect to building directions, although some scatter in elongation is observed. Large scatter is observed in the Charpy Impact tests. The microstructure characterization reveals mostly homogenous ferrite grains with some pearlite, except for some changes in morphology and grain size at the interface between the build and the base plate. The measured properties and microstructure are compared with the toughness and strength values reported in the literature, and a hypothesis is developed to rationalize the differences. Overall, the MBAAM process creates stable, isotropic, and weld-like mechanical properties in the deposit, while achieving a precise geometry obtained through a real-time feedback sensing, closed loop control system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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20 pages, 3575 KiB  
Article
Determination of Residual Welding Stresses in a Steel Bridge Component by Finite Element Modeling of the Incremental Hole-Drilling Method
by Evy Van Puymbroeck, Wim Nagy, Ken Schotte, Zain Ul-Abdin and Hans De Backer
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(3), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9030536 - 05 Feb 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3531
Abstract
For welded bridge components, the knowledge of residual stresses induced by welding is essential to determine their effect on the fatigue life behavior resulting in optimal fatigue design and a better knowledge about the fatigue strength of these welded connections. The residual stresses [...] Read more.
For welded bridge components, the knowledge of residual stresses induced by welding is essential to determine their effect on the fatigue life behavior resulting in optimal fatigue design and a better knowledge about the fatigue strength of these welded connections. The residual stresses of a welded component in an orthotropic steel bridge deck are determined with the incremental hole-drilling method. This method is specified by the American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM E837-13a and it can be used only when the material behavior is linear-elastic. However in the region of the bored hole, there are relaxed plastic strains present that can lead to significant error of the measured stresses. The hole-drilling procedure is simulated with three-dimensional finite element modeling including a simplistic model of plasticity. The effect of plasticity on uniform in-depth residual stresses is determined and it is concluded that residual stresses obtained under the assumption of linear-elastic material behavior are an overestimation. Including plasticity for non-uniform in-depth residual stress fields results in larger tensile and smaller compressive residual stresses. Larger tensile residual stresses cause premature fatigue failure. Therefore, it is important to take these larger tensile residual stresses into account for the fatigue design of a welded component. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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18 pages, 14852 KiB  
Article
Stability and Heat Input Controllability of Two Different Modulations for Double-Pulse MIG Welding
by Jiaxiang Xue, Min Xu, Wenjin Huang, Zhanhui Zhang, Wei Wu and Li Jin
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(1), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9010127 - 01 Jan 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4091
Abstract
Aluminum alloy welding frequently experiences difficulties such as heat input control, poor weld formation, and susceptibility to pore generation. We compared the use of two different modulations for double-pulse metal inert gas (MIG) welding to reduce the heat input required to generate oscillations [...] Read more.
Aluminum alloy welding frequently experiences difficulties such as heat input control, poor weld formation, and susceptibility to pore generation. We compared the use of two different modulations for double-pulse metal inert gas (MIG) welding to reduce the heat input required to generate oscillations in the weld pool. The stabilities of rectangular wave-modulated and trapezoidal wave-modulated double-pulse MIG welding (DP-MIG and TP-MIG) were analyzed by examining their welding processes and weld profiles. We found that the transitional pulse in TP-MIG welding results in smoother current transitions, softer welding arc sounds, and a highly uniform fish-scale pattern. Therefore, TP-MIG welding is more stable than DP-MIG welding. The effects of these double-pulse modulation schemes on welding input energy are presented. We propose methods for reducing welding input energy by varying the number of pulses or the pulse base time of low-energy pulse train while keeping the welding current and welding arc stable and unchanged. Compared to DP-MIG welding, TP-MIG welding reduces the input energy by 12% and produces finer grain sizes, which increases weld hardness. Therefore, TP-MIG welding offers a new approach for heat input control in DP-MIG welding of aluminum alloys. The results of this work are significant for aluminum alloy welding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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24 pages, 12231 KiB  
Article
Enhancement of Exit Flow Uniformity by Modifying the Shape of a Gas Torch to Obtain a Uniform Temperature Distribution on a Steel Plate during Preheating
by Thien Tu Ngo, Junho Go, Tianjun Zhou, Hap Van Nguyen and Geun Sik Lee
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(11), 2197; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8112197 - 09 Nov 2018
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5534
Abstract
The objective of this study is to improve the exit flow uniformity of a gas torch with multiple exit holes for effective heating of a steel plate. The torch was simulated, and combustion experiments were performed for validation. Based on a basic model, [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to improve the exit flow uniformity of a gas torch with multiple exit holes for effective heating of a steel plate. The torch was simulated, and combustion experiments were performed for validation. Based on a basic model, three different revised models were designed and analyzed with the software ANSYS FLUENT 18.2. The flow uniformity (γ) of the velocity distribution at the multiple exit holes was investigated with the pressure drop ranging from 100 to 500 Pa. The basic model had flow uniformity ranging from 0.849 to 0.852, but the three new models had γ1 = 0.901–0.912, γ2 = 0.902–0.911, and γ3 = 0.901–0.914, respectively. The maximum percentage difference of the flow uniformity index between the three new models and the basic model was 7.3%. The basic model with nonuniform flow distribution made a temperature difference of the back side of the steel plate from the center to the edge of around 229 °C, while the modified model with uniform flow distribution had a smaller temperature difference of 90 °C. The simulation results showed good agreement with our experimental results for both the basic model and the modified model. The modified gas torch made a wider and more uniform temperature distribution on a preheated steel plate than the basic one. The results revealed that a trade-off between cost and flow uniformity, as well as the new gas torch, could be applied to a steel-plate preheating process before welding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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13 pages, 7010 KiB  
Article
High-Speed Welding of Stainless Steel with Additional Compensatory Gas Jet Blow Molten Pool
by Changwen Dong, Jiaxiang Xue, Zhanhui Zhang, Li Jin, Yu Hu and Wei Wu
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(11), 2170; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8112170 - 06 Nov 2018
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4980
Abstract
To avoid humping bead defects in high-speed welding, this paper proposes the method of an additional and compensatory gas jet blow molten pool. A pulsed metal inert gas high-speed welding test platform was constructed for compensatory gas jet blow molten pool. A total [...] Read more.
To avoid humping bead defects in high-speed welding, this paper proposes the method of an additional and compensatory gas jet blow molten pool. A pulsed metal inert gas high-speed welding test platform was constructed for compensatory gas jet blow molten pool. A total of 304 stainless steel sheets were used as the welding workpieces under equal heat inputs. Two high-speed butt welding processes were conducted and compared, in which the workpieces were welded with and without compensatory gas jets at 154 cm/min and 167 cm/min, respectively. After high-speed welding with compensatory gas jet blow, the weld appearance was straight, uniform, and high-quality, with no humping bead or undercut defects. The macroscopic morphologies and microstructures of cross-sections of the weld at the toe, near the surface, the middle, and the bottom portion all showed the stirring effect of the gas jet on the molten pool and improved grain refinement degrees. Hardness was enhanced in the weld center and the heat-affected zone. At welding speeds of 154 cm/min and 167 cm/min, the fracture load capacities of the welds were increased by 24.9 and 10.4%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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13 pages, 8222 KiB  
Article
Effect of Additional Shielding Gas on Welding Seam Formation during Twin Wire DP-MIG High-Speed Welding
by Yu Hu, Jiaxiang Xue, Changwen Dong, Li Jin and Zhanhui Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(9), 1658; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8091658 - 14 Sep 2018
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4108
Abstract
For diminishing welding defects such as incomplete penetration, which may easily occur during the twin wire Double Pulsed Metal Inert Gas (DP-MIG) high-speed welding, a novel method using additional shielding gas is introduced in this paper. A branch for the additional shielding gas [...] Read more.
For diminishing welding defects such as incomplete penetration, which may easily occur during the twin wire Double Pulsed Metal Inert Gas (DP-MIG) high-speed welding, a novel method using additional shielding gas is introduced in this paper. A branch for the additional shielding gas was specially set near the back end of the protection hood for the DP-MIG nozzle. The constructed gas branch was used for enabling manual intervention in the formation of a high-temperature solid–liquid weld seam just emerging from the nozzle and also for secondary gas protection on the surface of the weld seam. The butt welding test was carried out in the 2205 duplex stainless steel plate and the weld seam was then characterized by a tensile test, metallographic analysis, X-ray non-destructive testing (NDT), hardness analysis, and impact test. The results showed that the introduction of an appropriate amount of additional shielding gas can effectively improve and diminish the unfused weld seam and also improve the mechanical properties such as the tensile properties of the weld joint, the hardness and toughness of the weld joints. Therefore, the introduction of additional shielding gas has further research potential in theory and process practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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11 pages, 1964 KiB  
Article
Fatigue Strength Assessment of Steel Rollers: On the Reliability of the Strain Energy Density Approach on Real Components
by Francesco Chebat, Mirco Peron, Luigi Mario Viespoli, Torgeir Welo and Filippo Berto
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(7), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8071015 - 21 Jun 2018
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4007
Abstract
Welded joints are one of the most widely applied methods to join different steel components. However, they introduce stress concentrators that are commonly known to reduce the fatigue strength of structures. Several methods have been developed to assess the fatigue behavior of welded [...] Read more.
Welded joints are one of the most widely applied methods to join different steel components. However, they introduce stress concentrators that are commonly known to reduce the fatigue strength of structures. Several methods have been developed to assess the fatigue behavior of welded components, such as the Notch Stress Intensity Factors (NSIFs) approach. However, this approach has been reported to be geometry dependent, and does not allow for a direct comparison of failures occurring at the weld toes with those occurring at the weld roots. This drawback has been overcame by considering the value of the strain energy density (SED) range averaged in a control volume ahead of the notch tip. More than 900 fatigue data of welded joints have been summarized within a single scatter band ΔW-N (strain energy range–umber of cycles to failure) using this approach. The reliability of the just mentioned scatter band in summarizing the fatigue data of real components such as steel welded rollers produced by Rulmeca is herein evaluated. The results prove the reliability of the SED approach to assess the fatigue behavior of welded rollers, paving the way to its diffusion in assessing real components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding of Steels)
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