Abstract
The reel-lay method is one of the most effective procedures for installing submarine pipelines. During the reel-lay installation process, pipelines are subjected to large-scale plastic strain because of cyclic bending/straightening processes. Thus, mechanical tests must be carried out to assess the effect of large-scale pre-strain on the girth weld of pipelines after cyclic bending/straightening processes. Tensile tests were performed on weld metals, the results showed that a slight increase in tensile and yield strength were caused by a pre-strain of 2.709 % (maximum strain region). A single-edged notched tension (SENT) specimen was examined via the unloading compliance method to evaluate the fracture toughness for the base metal, weld metal and HAZ. The fracture toughness test results showed that the weld metal exhibited the lowest fracture toughness followed by the base metal and HAZ. The fracture toughness of the base metal, the weld metal and HAZ all decreased after the cyclic bending/straightening with a pre-strain of 2.709 %.
Published Version
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