Assessment of hot cracking behaviour in welds

Abstract

Abstract Hot crack assessment during production and processing of metallic materials is an essential prerequisite for the safety of welded structures. The hot cracking investigations presented here were carried out as part of a study aimed at the development of Cr/Ni low transformation temperature filler materials. Low transformation temperature alloys open up the possibility for welding high strength steels. The externally loaded Modified Varestraint Transvarestraint hot cracking test was employed in the experiments described. The hot cracking resistance was evaluated with the help of light microscopy applied at the specimen surface. The proportionality between hot cracking susceptibility and Cr/Ni alloy content was explained by the altered solidification kinetics and by the enlarged solidification interval. The internal crack paths and the three-dimensional structure of the crack net in the material volume were examined using X-ray computer tomography. The total crack lengths for different material depths and circumjacent rectangular volumes, respectively, were be determined. An increasing hot cracking susceptibility with increasing Cr/Ni alloy content was also be established for the specimen volume.