Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Welded Joints of Several High Tensile Strength Steel

Abstract

Microstructures and mechanical properties of lap fillet welded joints of several high and ultra-high tensile strength steel by arc welding were investigated. Steel plates having tensile strength of 400 (SPH400W), 590 (SPC590Y, SPC590R), 980 (SPC980Y) and 1500 MPa (SAC1500HP) class with 2 mm thickness were prepared. Four types of joints were formed by MAG welding; SPH400W/SPH400W, SPC590Y/SPC590Y, SPC980Y/SPC980Y and SAC1500HP/SPC590R. In joints with SPC590Y, SPC980Y and SAC1500HP steel which matrixes are martensitic microstructures, the HAZ softens due to transformation of martensite into ferrite with precipitating cementite. By using high and ultra-high tensile strength steel, the weld metal is strengthened due to dilution of the matrix into the weld metal and thus tensile shear strength of the welded joint increases. In the fatigue test, similar S-N diagrams were obtained in the all welded joints investigated. It seems that the effect of stress concentration due to the shape of the welded joint on fatigue properties is larger than that of the strength of the matrix.