CTOD Evaluation for HAZ Toughness of Offshore Structure Steels with Heavy Thickness Based on API RP 2Z

Abstract

The CTOD (Crack Tip Opening Displacement) evaluation and control for HAZ (Heat Affected Zone) toughness of welded joints are the most effective measures to the security of steel structures. This paper address the problem of the newly developed offshore structure steel API 2W 50Z with heavy thickness of 100mm. In accordance with the American Petroleum Institute standard Recommended Practice 2Z (API PR 2Z), the CTOD tests of two critical positions of HAZ in three kinds of heat inputs were carried out in low temperature (-10°C). All of these CTOD testing and assessments are finished under the witness of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The result shows that all of the CTOD values are greater than the required value (0.38mm) in API RP 2Z. This indicates that the newly developed offshore structure steel (API 2W 50Z) meet the requirement of the toughness. Further, the CTOD testing and assessments in several international standards about weld joints of steel plates are also compared and discussed in this paper.