Numerical-experimental analysis of a modified G-BOP test to evaluate cracks in weld beads in thin sheets

Saulo Moretti Araújo Duarte,José Hilton Ferreira Da Silva,Heitor Abdias Da Silva Pereira,Kelly Cristiane Gomes

doi:10.1007/s00170-021-08121-z

Saulo Moretti Araújo Duarte, José Hilton Ferreira Da Silva + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-08121-z

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Abstract

One of the most critical problems related to welding is the occurrence of Hydrogen-Induced Cracking (HIC), and despite all the efforts made to mitigate this defect, it remains present in the modern welding industry. Although the Gapped Bead-on-Plate (G-BOP) test is one of the most practical methods for assessing susceptibility to HIC, the use of a thick plate as the base metal (BM) restricts its application. Considering that many materials, such as the High-Strength-Low-Alloy (HSLA) steels, are difficult to find commercially in the required thickness, and also the fundamental need to appropriately represent the relationship between BM and electrode, da Silva, Fals and Trevisan developed a modified G-BOP test that uses a thinner sheet as the BM. Thus, the present paper aims to evaluate the ability of the Finite Element Method (FEM) to represent the thermomechanical aspects of the G-BOP test and to analyze its modified version using a numerical-experimental approach. In addition to consolidating the modified G-BOP test, the results corroborate the FEM as an important ally in HIC studies.

Highlights

The development of the so-called High-Strength-Low-Alloy steels (HSLA) allowed, among many benefits, the fabrication of components with increasingly smaller thicknesses, lighter and more slender, but retaining the capability to appropriately resist the service loads
It is consent that three fundamental elements must be present for Hydrogen-Induced Cracking (HIC) to occur: hydrogen dissolved in the weld bead, susceptible material microstructure, and tensile stresses acting on the welded element [2]
Even though they may arise from mechanical solicitations in service, welding residual stresses are likely to cause the problem as they are the first to act in the component after the welding [4, 5], playing an important role in the HIC

Summary

Introduction

The development of the so-called High-Strength-Low-Alloy steels (HSLA) allowed, among many benefits, the fabrication of components with increasingly smaller thicknesses, lighter and more slender, but retaining the capability to appropriately resist the service loads. The welding of such materials is related to various challenges, especially Hydrogen-Induced Cracking (HIC), known as Delayed Cracking or Cold Cracking, because it generally occurs many hours, days, or even weeks after the welding, at room temperature. It is one of the most studied defects related to welding, it is one of the less comprehended [1]. Even though they may arise from mechanical solicitations in service, welding residual stresses are likely to cause the problem as they are the first to act in the component after the welding [4, 5], playing an important role in the HIC

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