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At least 127 records · Page 7

Improved Back-Side Purge-Gas Chambers For Plasma Arc Welding

Improved chambers for inert-gas purging of back sides of workpieces during plasma arc welding in keyhole (full-penetration) mode based on concept of directing flows of inert gases toward, and concentrating them on, hot weld zones. Tapered chamber concentrates flow of inert gas on plasma arc plume and surrounding metal.

Ezell, Kenneth G.↗

Evaluation of the Microstructure and Performance of Fe-21Cr-15Ni-6Mn-Nb Nonmagnetic Stainless Steel Welded Joints

In the present study, double-sided gas shield welding (GSW), in a single pass, was applied to Fe-21Cr-15Ni-6Mn-Nb nonmagnetic stainless steel plate. The microstructure and performance of the welded joint were investigated via microstructural and phase analysis, mechanical testing and magnetic analysis. The results showed a satisfactory micrographic appearance with full penetration, and no solidification defects observed in the welded joint, which showed typical epitaxial growth characteristics in the welding solidification. Slight grain growth, with an average size of ~ 18.9 μm, occurred in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). The primary dendrite arms, on both sides of welding joint, grew along the direction of the temperature gradient and met at the centerline of the weld with no parting microstructure in evidence. The secondary dendrite arm spacing was stable in all parts of the weld zone (WZ). The hardness of the weld zone was higher than that of the HAZ and the base metal (BM), with the lowest hardness occurring in the HAZ. The results of tensile testing showed a higher strength of the welded metal (WM) compared to the BM, and a good strength-ductility balance of the welded joint. The impact energy of the HAZ was higher than that of the WZ, corresponding to 60.5 J at room temperature and 52.7 J at − 196 °C. Microvoid coalescence, concurrent with crack propagation along the direction of the long axis of the dendritic sub-grains, was observed during plastic deformation in the WZ. Additionally, the excellent paramagnetic characteristics of the welded specimens were revealed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Numerical Simulation of Residual Stresses in Multipass Gas Metal Arc-Welded Joints of Thick Aluminum Alloy Plates

Numerical simulation was utilized to investigate the residual stresses in the multipass gas metal arc-welded joints of high-strength Al-Zn-Mg alloy plates. In order to elevate the reliability of numerical simulation, the heat source model, parameters characterizing the thermal and mechanical properties, boundary conditions, material constitutive model and finite element meshing were discussed in detail. As a novelty of this paper, the modified Arrhenius constitutive equation of the base material and the filled material was obtained according to the results of high-temperature tensile tests. Distributions of stress on the upper and bottom surface of the joint were obtained based on numerical simulation. Special attention was paid to the evolutions of local residual stress on the bottom surface of the joint, and it’s found that residual stresses on the bottom surface of the joint were almost unchanged after the weld seam approached a certain thickness. Blind-hole method and x-ray method were adopted to detect the residual stresses on the surfaces to verify the accuracy of the results obtained by numerical simulation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quarterly Management Document – FY22, 1st Quarter, Multi-pass Hybrid Laser Arc Welding of Alloy 740H

This report summarizes the progress made on the project during the first quarter of FY22. The model for deep penetration laser welding continues to be developed to understand and mitigate cracking issues associated with laser welding Alloy 740H. The effects of laser wobble on laser welding of this alloy are also being developed. Additionally, the short-term creep behavior of welds made by various hybrid laser arc parameters has been obtained and the results indicate they are comparable to welds made by conventional gas tungsten arc welding which is a factor 2 slower than the hybrid welds. Additionally, the creep behavior of laser-only welds is also consistent with conventional gas tungsten arc welds as well as the hybrid laser arc welds made under this project. However, the creep rate of the laser-only welds is much higher than that observed in the hybrid laser arc welded specimens. This is most likely due to the narrower weld produced by laser-only welding compared to hybrid laser arc welding and, thus, the higher creep rate of laser-only welded creep specimens is likely a result of the increased fraction of base metal (which exhibits a higher creep rate than weld metal) contained within the gage section of the creep specimen. Creep rupture lifetimes were all about the same for both laser-only and hybrid laser arc welded specimens and consistent with the creep rupture lifetime of conventional gas tungsten arc welded creep specimens.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Bend ductility of columbium alloys WC3015 and Cb752.

Bend angles for columbium-base alloys, WC3015 and Cb752, at temperatures between -300 F and +500 F are reported. WC3015 exhibited a bend transition temperature well below -100 F, but was severely embrittled by silicide coatings. Cb 752 exhibited a bend transition temperature below -300 F, and the silicide coating application did not influence bend angle of the substrate. However, coating failure on both alloys was observed at less than 60 deg bend, even at 500 F. The effect of electron beam welding and gas tungsten-arc welding on the properties of WC3015 and Cb752 are also reported. Both techniques are shown to produce a marked reduction in the bend angle of WC3015. Unlike WC3015, ductility is restored in Cb752 after a suitable postweld anneal. Microstructural and hardness tests results for both alloys are reported and discussed.

Tavassoli, A. A.↗

Mechanical Behavior of Commercially Pure Titanium Weldments at Lower Temperatures

Commercially pure titanium is used for low-temperature applications due to good toughness attributed to single-phase microstructure (α). Electron beam welding (EBW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) processes have been used for welding two grades of commercially pure titanium (Grade 2 and Grade 4). Martensitic microstructure is found to be finer in the case of EBW joint as compared to GTAW joint due to faster rate of cooling in the former process. Weldments have been characterized to study the mechanical behavior at ambient (298 K) and cryogenic temperatures (20 and 77 K). Strength of weldments increases with the decrease in temperature, which is found to be more prominent in case of Grade 4 titanium as compared to Grade 2. Weld efficiency of Grade 4 is found to be higher at all the temperatures (ambient, 77 and 20 K). However, ultimate tensile strength/yield strength ratio is higher for Grade 2 as compared to Grade 4. % Elongation is found to increase/retained at cryogenic temperatures for Grade 2, and it is found to decrease for Grade 4. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy of deformed samples confirmed the presence of extensive twinning in Grade 2 and the presence of finer martensitic structure in Grade 4. Fractography analysis of tested specimens revealed the presence of cleavage facets in Grade 4 and dimples in specimens of Grade 2. Higher strength in Grade 4 is attributed to higher oxygen restricting the twin-assisted slip, which is otherwise prominent in Grade 2 titanium.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Materials for Advanced Ultra-Supercritical (AUSC) Steam Turbines – AUSC Component Demonstration

The work by the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE)/Ohio Coal Development Office (OCDO) Advanced Ultra-Supercritical (AUSC) Steam Boiler and Turbine Materials Consortia from 2001 through September 2015 was primarily focused on lab scale and pilot scale materials testing. The field testing included air-cooled probes and steam-cooled “loops” that were installed into existing utility boilers to gain exposure of these materials to realistic conditions of high temperature and corrosion due to the constituents in the coal ash. Successful research and development resulted in identification of metallic alloy materials and fabrication processes suited for power generation applications with metal temperatures up to approximately 1472°F (800°C). These materials or alloys have shown, in extensive laboratory tests and shop fabrication studies, to have excellent applicability for high-efficiency low CO2 transformational power generation technologies. However, as valuable as these material field tests have been for obtaining information, their scale is significantly below that required to minimize the risk associated with a power company building a multi-billion-dollar AUSC power plant. To decrease the identified risk barriers to full-scale implementation of these advanced materials, the U.S. DOE/OCDO AUSC Steam Boiler and Turbine Materials Consortia identified the key areas of the technology that need to be tested at a larger scale. Based upon the recommendations and outcome of a Consortia-sponsored workshop with the U.S.’s leading utilities, a Component Test (ComTest) Program for AUSC was proposed. The AUSC ComTest program would define materials performance requirements, plan for overall advanced system integration, design critical component tests, fabricate components for testing from advanced materials, and carry out the tests. A Pre-FEED evaluation of the test facility including the evaluation of three potential sites has been completed and previously reported. This report describes the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), Detailed Engineering and the Environmental Assessment of the ComTest project. A significant amount of work was accomplished during Phase 1 to identity the components, as well as the component size, that would be manufactured from advanced alloys such as INCONEL 740H or HAYNES 282 alloys. Pathways to supply these components for ComTest have been identified as well as any further development that would be required. Every project of this nature has challenges and this project was no exception. The greatest challenge has been the project cost. Largely due to the infrastructure and balance of plant equipment upgrades required for Youngstown Thermal, the estimated project cost for the “base case” project was greater than originally budgeted. The project team spent a significant amount of time exploring opportunities for reducing the project cost. These options included: • Youngstown Thermal was exploring building a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit at their facility. The Youngstown Thermal staff, supported by Thermal Engineering Group, worked with the project team to determine whether it was economically desirable to supply ComTest with steam and other utilities, which would be supplied by the CHP project. • The project team also evaluated opportunities to optimize the project scope to reduce cost, such as reducing project scope by eliminating the Superheater Outlet Header test. • Southern Company had offered two sites as possible host locations for ComTest. Both sites had infrastructure in place such as steam from an existing unit, natural gas, cooling water and ample electrical power that would be required to be added at the Youngstown Thermal site. Utilizing this existing infrastructure could reduce the project cost. An additional project challenge was the departure of Babcock and Wilcox from the project in September 2016. This project setback was overcome by GE Power’s willingness to assume the design of the ComTest superheater. Since the project could not proceed without the superheater, this was a very positive project development. The merger of the GE Power and Alstom Power steam turbine divisions created synergies leading to the conclusion that instead of building a small-scale turbine, a more practical and useful endeavor would be to validate the manufacturing technology and supplier readiness for fabricating and machining full scale steam turbine components. Consequently, in March 2017, GE Power decided that a steam turbine test would not be necessary as part of the ComTest demonstration. Removing the operational testing of the steam turbine from ComTest further reduced the total project cost. Additionally, there was an opportunity to move ComTest from Youngstown Thermal to one of the Southern Company sites and operate ComTest at supercritical steam conditions and test the steam turbine main stop/control valve at a temperature and pressure that would be representative of the conditions of a high pressure steam turbine inlet valve. The steam could also possibly be returned to the host boiler so there would be no economic penalty of using this steam for ComTest. Relocating the project could further reduce the project cost due to the infrastructure already in place, including high pressure natural gas and cooling water, and the potential for heat integration, allowing a reduction of operating costs. Due to these potential cost reductions, it was decided to move the project away from Youngstown Thermal in March 2017. As integrating ComTest at the Southern Company site was explored, an issue was raised regarding the integration of the ComTest cycle with the plant steam cycle. Steam would be supplied to ComTest at nominally ~3865 psia and 775°F. The steam would be heated with natural gas to 1400°F for the valve test and then cooled to 1000°F so that the steam would be returned to the host boiler at the same conditions as their high pressure steam turbine inlet. However, there were concerns raised that the addition of the energy (natural gas) to the steam could trigger a New Source Review on the unit. Southern Company did not want ComTest to cause this review, so condensing all of the steam exiting ComTest and returning it to the host steam cycle as condensate was explored to insure there would be no implication that ComTest was adding energy to the host plant’s steam cycle. Ultimately, Southern Company decided that they wanted to “decouple” ComTest from the operating unit, making ComTest self-supporting, similar to the Youngstown Thermal “base case.” Without the steam turbine, the project team reached a consensus that operating the ComTest Superheater and steam turbine valves at the typical pressure of a package boiler (~1000 psig) would not generate enough useful technical information to justify the cost of the test. Therefore, it was decided in the December 2017 project quarterly meeting to cancel the operational phase of ComTest. Throughout the engineering phase of ComTest, manufacturing and supply chain challenges were identified. When GE Power recommended dropping the steam turbine test from ComTest, they identified many important manufacturing issues that should be evaluated and demonstrated. Other challenges had been raised by the GE Power group designing the superheater as well as those engineering components such as pressure relief and steam turbine bypass valves. In the December 2017 meeting, the project team decided that it was more beneficial to the AUSC technology to pursue these manufacturing and supply chain issues as Phase 2 of the ComTest project. This report is organized in the following manner: • Section 2 discusses the ComTest project background and organization. • Section 3 discussed project management. • Section 4 discusses the design of the ComTest AUSC components – the Superheater, steam turbine and Superheater Outlet Header. • Section 5 discusses the implementation of ComTest at Youngstown Thermal and the Southern Company site. • Section 6 discusses the development of the AUSC Supply Chain • Section 7 discusses the recommended plan for Phase 2 of ComTest

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Effect of Heat Input on Microstructure, Residual Stress, and Corrosion Resistance of UNS 32101 Lean Duplex Stainless Steel Weld Joints

In the present work, the influence of heat input on phase balance, residual stresses and corrosion resistance of UNS 32101 lean duplex stainless steel welds has been investigated. Three weldment types were obtained with different heat inputs by varying welding current, using gas tungsten arc welding process. The results revealed that increasing heat input caused a significant microstructural evolution with high austenite fraction in weld metals. The residual stresses were measured on the surface and through the sample’s thickness by x-ray diffraction technique based on Sin{sup 2}ψ method. The results showed an inversely proportional relationship between the heat input and the compressive residual stresses on the surface and through the thickness of the weld metal. Potentiodynamic polarization tests of the different welded joints evaluated in 3.5% NaCl solution exhibited high corrosion resistance of the weld metal produced with the low heat input.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Laves phase in alloy 718 fusion zone — microscopic and calorimetric studies

Microstructural characterization of alloy 718 fusion zone welded with both solid solution and age hardenable filler metal has been done. The microsegregation and the aging response were studied by employing three levels of weld cooling rate. Gas Tungsten Arc welding process was used. The fusion zone of solid solution filler metal has been responding to the aging treatment due to the weld process conditions and weld metal chemistry. However the weld metal composition was modified due to the higher molybdenum (Mo) content in solid solution filler metal. The effect of this modification on the phase reaction temperatures was studied and the same was compared with the conventional filler metal. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • Interdendritic segregation has been controlled by weld cooling rate. • Laves phase formation has been studied with cooling rate and weld metal chemistry. • Aging response with solid solution filler metal has been demonstrated. • Reduction in Laves phase and alloying element segregation has been confirmed. • Reaction temperatures were found modified because of Mo addition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High Power Laser Welding

A review of recent developments in high power, carbon dixoide laser welding is presented. Deep penetration welding in stainless steel to 0.5-in. thick, high speed welding in thin gage rimmed steel and gas shielded welding in Ti-6Al-4V alloy are described. The effects of laser power, power density, focusing optics, gas-shielding techniques, material properties and weld speed on weld quality and penetration are discussed. It is shown that laser welding performance in thin materials is comparable to that of electron beams. It is further shown that high quality welds, as evidenced by NDT, mechanical and metal-lographic tests, can be achieved. The potential of the laser for industrial welding applications is indicated.

Banas, C. M.↗

Electrode carrying wire for GTAW welding

A welding torch for gas tungsten arc welding apparatus has a hollow tungsten electrode including a ceramic liner and forms the filler metal wire guide. The wire is fed through the tungsten electrode thereby reducing the size of the torch to eliminate clearance problems which exist with external wire guides. Since the wire is preheated from the tungsten more wire may be fed into the weld puddle, and the wire will not oxidize because it is always within the shielding gas.

Morgan, Gene E.↗

Internal wire guide for GTAW welding

A welding torch for gas tungsten arc welding apparatus has a filler metal wire guide positioned within the torch, and within the shielding gas nozzle. The wire guide is adjacent to the tungsten electrode and has a ceramic liner through which the wire is fed. This reduces the size of the torch and eliminates the outside clearance problems that exit with external wire guides. Additionally, since the wire is always within the shielding gas, oxidizing of the wire is eliminated.

Morgan, Gene E.↗

Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of Cast and Wrought CF8C-Plus Relevant to ASME Code Case Qualification

The mechanical behavior of a cast form of an advanced austenitic stainless steel, CF8C-Plus, is compared with that of its wrought equivalent in terms of both tensile and creep-rupture properties and estimated allowable stress values for pressurized service at temperatures up to about 850°C. A traditional Larson-Miller parametric model is used to analyze the creep-rupture data and to predict long-term lifetimes for comparison of the two alloy types. The cast CF8C-Plus exhibited lower yield and tensile strengths, but higher creep strength compared to its wrought counterpart. Two welding methods, shielded-metal-arc welding (SMAW) and gas-metal-arc welding, met the weld qualification acceptance criteria in ASME BPVC Section IX for the cast CF8C-Plus. However, for the wrought CF8C-Plus, while SMAW and gas-tungsten-arc welding passed the tensile acceptance criteria, they failed the side bend tests due to lack of fusion or weld metal discontinuities.

Chen, Xiang↗

The Effect of SiC Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Gas Tungsten Arc-Welded Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

In the present study, SiC powder was added in situ for bead-on-plate weldments and fusion butt joints to modify the microstructure and the corresponding mechanical properties. Cross sections of bead-on-plate welds demonstrated that the SiC addition resulted in significant changes of the titanium microstructure. Specifically, a fine lamellar structure of α-phase with a small amount of intergranular β-titanium within the fusion zone could be established. Moreover, the size of prior β-grains was significantly reduced. After welding, no intermetallic silicides were observed. In the fusion zone of the SiC-enhanced samples, a small increase in hardness resulted, and the samples showed an increase in tensile strength, yield strength and elongation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Produce ZrH Moderator Material

This reports complete Milestone M2.2.3 Produce zirconium hydride moderator material. In this milestone, we report the successful fabrication of FeCrAl alloys cladded zirconium hydride moderator. Different types of crucible designs were presented, including the basic design with bar cladding material, basic design with tube cladding material, and crucible design with position holding function. Mo and FeCrAl were used as the trial cladding materials. The welding techniques and procedures were reported and discussed. Totally three welding techniques were adopted in the development of moderator cladding, and they are electron beam welding (EBW), laser welding (LW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). After welding, all cladded crucibles were evaluated with two kinds of leak testing, the helium leak test for minor leakage and the bubble test for major leakage. Due to the concern of the poor neutronics performance, Mo was not ideal for future moderator cladding application. Therefore, detailed characterization of the Mo cladded zirconium hydride was not pursued. Instead, the characterization of FeCrAl cladded zirconium hydride was performed. We discussed two material conditions (i.e., as machined and pre-oxidized conditions) prior to the cladding process, evaluated thermal stability of cladded zirconium hydride moderator through directly measuring hydrogen release, and characterized the zirconium hydride following the thermal desorption measurement. The results showed pre-oxidized FeCrAl is capable of efficiently preventing hydrogen release from the moderator assembly.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗