Evaluation of GMAW Welded Joints in A36 Low-Alloy Marine Steel Sheets: Tensile Test, Hardness, and Fatigue Properties

Subject Areas : Manufacturing & Production

Mohammad reza Maraki ¹ , Masoud Mahmoodi ² , Milad Khodaei ³ , Hadi Tagimalek ⁴

1 - Department of Materials and Metallurgy Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, Iran.
2 - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
3 - Chemical Engineering Faculty, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran.
4 - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.

Received: 2022-03-02 Accepted : 2022-04-18 Published : 2022-11-01

Keywords: Hardness, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Marine Structures, Tensile test, A36 low alloy steel, Fatigue properties,

Abstract :

In Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), the applied thermal cycle will cause a change in the chemical composition and structure of the welded zone compared to the base metal (BM). As a result, it causes changes in mechanical properties including fatigue strength. This research investigates the tensile test, hardness, and fatigue properties of A36 low-alloy marine steel with high tensile strength. For this purpose, A36 low-alloy marine steel was welded by the GMAW method. After performing the mechanical tests, the structural examination was done by optical microscope (OM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) on the welded samples. The obtained results show that the fatigue strength of the weld has decreased compared to the base metal by creating coarse and heterogeneous grain structures, which are caused by the effects of the mentioned items in the weld metal. Microstructural defects in the weld metal caused cracks germination and accelerated crack growth. So that the fatigue strength of the weld metal was lower than that of the BM.

References:

[1] Z. Jie, K. Wang, S. Liang., "Residual stress influence on fatigue crack propagation of CFRP strengthened welded joints", Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 196, 2022, 107443.

[2] S. Han, G. Liu, X. Tang, L. Xu, H. Cui, C. Shao., "Effect of molten pool behaviors on welding defects in tandem NG-GMAW based on CFD simulation", International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 195, 2022, 123165.

[3] P. Hariprasath, P. Sivaraj, V. Balasubramanian, Srinivas Pilli, K. Sridhar., "Effect of the welding technique on mechanical properties and metallurgical characteristics of the naval grade high strength low alloy steel joints produced by SMAW and GMAW", CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology, Vol. 37, 2022, pp584-595.

[4] H. Tagimalek, M. Azargoman, M.R. Maraki, M. Mahmoodi., "The effects of diffusion depth and heat-affected zone in NE-GMAW process on SUH 310S steel using an Image processing method", International Journal of Iron & Steel Society of Iran, Vol. 17, Issue. 1, 2020, pp. 11-20.

[5] L. Su, Z. Fei, B. Davis, H. Li, H. Bornstein., "Digital image correlation study on tensile properties of high strength quenched and tempered steel weld joints prepared by K-TIG and GMAW", Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 827, 2021, 142033.

[6] S.C. Siriwardane, N.D Adasooriya, D. Pavlou., "Fatigue Strength Curve for Tubular Joints of Offshore Structures under Dynamic Loading" Dynamics, Vol. 1, 2021, pp. 125–133.

[7] A. Mohammadipour, K. Willam., "A numerical lattice method to characterize a contact fatigue crack growth and its Paris coefficients using configurational forces and stress-life curves", Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 340, 2018, pp. 236-252.

[8] R. Yu, X. Li, Z. Yue, A. Li, Z. Zhao, X. Wang, H. Zhou, T.J. Lu., "Stress state sensitivity for plastic flow and ductile fracture of L907A low-alloy marine steel: From tension to shear", Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 835, 2022, 142689.

[9] Z.Chen, L. Sun, W. Zhang, H. Zheng, W. Xia, H. Zeng, S. Chen, K. Li, W. Li., "Corrosion behavior of marine structural steel in tidal zone based on wire beam electrode technology and partitioned cellular automata model", Corrosion Communications, Vol. 5, 2022, pp. 87-97.

[10] N. Zhao, Q. Zhao, Y. He, R. Liu, W. Liu, W. Zheng, L. Li., "Strengthening-toughening mechanism of cost-saving marine steel plate with 1000 MPa yield strength", Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 831, 2022, 142280.

[11] C. Ren, H. Wang, Y. Huang, Q.Q. Yu., "Post-fire mechanical properties of corroded grade D36 marine steel, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 263, 2020, 120120.

[12] J. Ge, Y. Sun, S. Zhou., "Fatigue life estimation under multiaxial random loading by means of the equivalent Lemaitre stress and multiaxial S–N curve methods", International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 79, 2015, pp. 65-74.

[13] P.D.T. Caiza, S. Sire, T. Ummenhofer, Y. Uematsu., "Full and partial compression fatigue tests on welded specimens of steel St 52-3. Effects of the stress ratio on the probabilistic fatigue life estimation, Applications in Engineering Science, Vol. 10, 2022, 100091.

[14] Q. Gao, H. Xin, J.A.F.O. Correia, A.S. Mosallam, F. Berto., "Probabilistic fatigue life analysis considering mean stress effects of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites", International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 162, 2022, 106951.

[15] J. Brnic, S. Balos, M. Brcic, M. Dramicanin, S. Krscanski, M. Milutinovic, B. Ding, Z. Geo., "Testing and analysis of uniaxial mechanical fatigue, charpy impact fracture energy and microhardness of two low-carbon steels, Materials, Vol. 16, 2023, 884.

[16] H. Zhao, J. Liu, F. Hua, Y. Ran, R. Zi, B. Li., "Multiaxial fatigue life prediction model considering stress gradient and size effect", International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, Vol. 199, 2022, 104703.