Prediction of solidification cracking in laser welds of type 310 stainless steels

Abstract

The occurrence of solidification cracks in laser welds of type 310 stainless steels was predicted by numerical analyses of the solidification brittle range (ductility curve for cracking) and thermal strain in the weld metal. The solidification brittle range in laser welding was estimated from that in arc welding based on the numerical analyses of supercooling (for calculating dendrite tip temperature) and segregation (for calculating completely solidified temperature) during rapid solidification. The calculated solidification brittle range was reduced with an increase in the welding speed because of the enhanced supercooling and the inhibited solidification segregation. The thermal strain analysis by FEM suggested that solidification cracks would occur in SUS310S welds at laser travelling velocity of 60 mm/s applying the initial strain of 1.5%, while no solidification cracks in SUS310EHP welds at any laser travelling velocities applying the higher initial strain of 2.2%. The cantilever type cracking test in laser welding revealed that the predicted results of occurrence of solidification cracks were consistent with experimental ones.