Creep damage evaluation of 9Cr–1Mo–V–Nb steel welded joints showing Type IV fracture

In the postweld heat-treated (PWHT) fusion welded modified 9Cr-1Mo steel joint, a soft zone was identified at the outer edge of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the base metal adjacent to the deposited weld metal. Hardness and tensile tests were performed on the base metal subjected to soaking for 5 minutes at temperatures below Ac1 to above Ac3 and tempering at the PWHT condition. These tests indicated that the soft zone in the weld joint corresponds to the intercritical region of HAZ. Creep tests were conducted on the base metal and cross weld joint. At relatively lower stresses and higher test temperatures, the weld joint possessed lower creep rupture life than the base metal, and the difference in creep rupture life increased with the decrease in stress and increase in temperature. Preferential accumulation of creep deformation coupled with extensive creep cavitation in the intercritical region of HAZ led to the premature failure of the weld joint in the intercritical region of the HAZ, commonly known as type IV cracking. The microstructures across the HAZ of the weld joint have been characterized to understand the role of microstructure in promoting type IV cracking. Strength reduction in the intercritical HAZ of the joint resulted from the combined effects of coarsening of dislocation substructures and precipitates. Constrained deformation of the soft intercritical HAZ sandwich between relatively stronger constitutes of the joint induced creep cavitation in the soft zone resulting in premature failure.

Characterization of Microstructures across the Heat-Affected Zone of the Modified 9Cr-1Mo Weld Joint to Understand Its Role in Promoting Type IV Cracking

The finite element (FE) method has been applied to simulate residual axial and hoop stresses generated in the weld region and heat-affected zone of an axisymmetric 50-bead circumferentially butt-welded P91 steel pipe, with an outer diameter of 145 mm and wall thickness of 50 mm. The FE simulation consists of a thermal analysis and a sequentially coupled structural analysis. Solid-state phase transformation (SSPT), which is characteristic of P91 steel during welding thermal cycles, has been modelled in the FE analysis by allowing for volumetric changes in steel and associated changes in yield stress due to austenitic and martensitic transformations. Phase transformation plasticity has also been taken into account. The effects of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) have been investigated, including those of heat treatment holding time. Residual axial and hoop stresses have been depicted through the pipe wall thickness as well as along the outer surface of the pipe. The results indicate the importance of including SSPT in the simulation of residual stresses during the welding of P91 steel as well as the significance of PWHT on stress relaxation.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1243/03093247JSA372

Finite element simulation of welding and residual stresses in a P91 steel pipe incorporating solid-state phase transformation and post-weld heat treatment

In this study the residual stresses in a pipe girth weld in a ferritic-martensitic power plant steel were measured by neutron diffraction and compared with the corresponding metallurgical zones in the weld region. It was found that, in both the as-welded and post-weld heat treated condition, the highest tensile stresses resided near the outer boundary of the heat-affected zone (HAZ), and towards the weld root region. Substantial tensile direct and hydrostatic stresses existed across the HAZ, including the fine-grained and intercritically annealed regions, where premature type IV creep failures manifest in 9–12 Cr steel welds. Compressive stresses were found in the weld metal coinciding with the last weld bead to be deposited. Constrained cooling tests on test coupons illustrated that these compressive stresses can be explained in terms of the influence that solid-state phase transformations have on the accumulation of stress in welds.

Residual stress distributions in a P91 steel-pipe girth weld before and after post weld heat treatment

Fossil fuels continue to be the primary source of energy in the world. The worldwide demand for clean and affordable energy will continue to grow, and a strong emphasis has been placed on increasing the efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of new and existing fossil fired power plants. Throughout Asia, Europe and the USA, this demand is being met with programmes to develop advanced materials that have enhanced high temperature creep and corrosion properties. A new class of ferritic alloys, known as creep strength enhanced ferritic steels, has been developed to meet these requirements. This article focuses on the weldability of the advanced ferritic alloys used in boilers and boiler components of ultrasupercritical coal fired power plants. This review focuses on alloy selection; welding and weldability issues, including in service weld failure such as type IV cracking; welding of dissimilar metals; and weld repair. Future articles will address the welding and weldability issues of two other...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1179/1362171813Y.0000000152

Mark deWitte

Papers

Analysis of creep in a welded ‘P91’ pressure vessel