SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1997
STP12323S

Fracture Initiation by Local Brittle Zones in Weldments of Quenched and Tempered Structural Alloy Steel Plate

Source

The heat-affected zone (HAZ) embrittlement of an API 2Y Grade 50T quenched and tempered offshore structural steel plate, welded by the submerged-arc process at a heat input of 4.5 kJ/mm, was investigated from the viewpoint of identifying the local brittle zone (LBZ) microstructure and the metallurgical factors associated with its formation. Microstructural and fractographic analysis showed the LBZ microstructure to be dual phase martensite-austenite (M-A) constituent. The formation of M-A constituent was found to be related to microstructural banding of the hot-rolled base plate. When the banded base plate was welded, M-A constituent formed only within the band microstructure which penetrated the intercritically-reheated coarse-grain HAZ (IRCGHAZ). The chemistry of the band microstructure in conjunction with the thermal cycle of the IRCGHAZ provided the critical conditions for the formation of M-A constituent in the API 2Y Grade 50T steel investigated. The influence of local brittle zones (i.e., M-A constituent) on the HAZ fracture toughness was evaluated by means of Crack-Tip Opening Displacement (CTOD) tests. These tests showed the steel to suffer embrittlement when the fatigue precrack sampled an intercritically-reheated coarse-grain HAZ which contained M-A constituent, confirming that M-A constituent is the major microstructural factor controlling the HAZ toughness of this particular steel.

Author Information

Kenney, KL
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, USA
Reuter, WG
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, USA
Reemsnyder, HS
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Bethlehem, PA, USA
Matlock, DK
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
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Details
Developed by Committee: E08
Pages: 427–449
DOI: 10.1520/STP12323S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5374-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2410-3