Brittle Fracture Initiation Characteristics of Welded Joint for High Strength Steels

Abstract

In welded structures it is necessary to prevent initiation of brittle fracture from weld defects or crack in the joint at their service temperature and stress level specially in case of high strength steels. It is estimated that the bond of joint is more brittle than the base metal and that the degree of embrittlement depends on the welding heat input.
In this paper, the effect of heat input on the brittle fracture initiation characteristics of the base metal, the bond and the weld metal of welded joints for 60, 70 and 80 kg/mm² high strength steels was investigated.
In addition, the path of brittle crack propagation, the effects of welding procedure such as the shielded and submerged arc weldings, the stress relieving, and the inhomogenity on the brittle fracture initiation characteristics were investigated.