Determination of Residual Stresses in Low Transformation Temperature (LTT -) Weld Metals using X-ray and High Energy Synchrotron Radiation

Abstract

Crack and fatigue resistance are relevant evaluation criteria for welded joints and are decreased by tensile residual stresses resulting from the welding and cooling process, while compressive residual stresses can have a positive influence on the characteristics mentioned. In order to generate compressive residual stresses, a set of post weld treatment procedures is available, like shot peening, hammering, etc. These procedures have the disadvantage that they are time and cost extensive and have to be applied after welding. As another point, such technologies can only produce compressive stresses at the top surface, i.e. can only contribute to the reduction of the risk of cracks initiated at the surface, like fatigue cracks. A chance to generate compressive stresses over the complete weld joint during the welding procedure is offered by the so-called Low Transformation Temperature (LTT -) filler wires. Compared to conventional wires, these materials show lower phase transformation temperatures, which can work against cooling-related tensile stresses, resulting from respective shrinkage restraint. In consequence, distinct compressive residual stresses can be observed within the weld and adjacent areas. The strength of these fillers makes them potentially applicable to high-strength steel welding. Welds produced with different LTT — filler wires have shown different levels and distributions of the resulting residual stresses depending on the specific transformation temperature. The transformation temperatures are determined by temperature measurement. Classical X-ray diffraction as well as diffraction methods using high energy synchrotron radiation have been used for residual stress analysis. By means of high energy synchrotron diffraction in reflection mode residual stress depth gradients can be determined non-destructively. The phase selective nature of the diffraction measurements enables the simultaneous determination of the phase specific residual stresses of all contributing crystalline phases within one experiment. The application of white beam diffraction implies recording of a multitude of diffraction lines within the energy range of the provided energy spectrum of the white beam. By this means phase specific residual stress depth distributions up to distances of 150 μm below the surface can be analysed for steel using the energy dispersive set-up of the HMI-beamline EDDI at the Bessy site, Berlin, providing an energy range between 20–150 keV. As a side effect quantitative phase analysis can be carried out using white energy dispersive diffraction e.g. the determination of the content of retained austenite in the weld.