TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 711/2000
R J Pargeter, A Muhammed and J M Nicholas
Probabilistic modelling of fabrication hydrogen cracking in C-Mn steels can be used both as a predictive and retrospective tool, for fabrication and inspection. In fabrication, the risk associated with, for example, using a lower heat input can be quantified and inspection can benefit by knowing which components had a higher probability of cracking.
Background
There are many approaches used worldwide to derive welding procedures for C-Mn steels to minimise the risk of heat affected zone (HAZ) hydrogen cracking during fabrication. They all have an allowance for 'safety' included, but this is not necessarily quantified. Determining the overall probability of cracking would allow control measures and inspection following fabrication to be concentrated in critical areas, thereby improving cost effectiveness, and would further provide an input into safety case assessments.
Objective
- To develop a probabilistic model for fabrication HAZ hydrogen cracking at welded joints in C-Mn and allied steels.