Study of the Mechanical Properties of Flux-Cored Wire Welds in C-Mn Steels
TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 241/1984
By R L Jones and H G Pisarski
Background
The mechanical properties of butt welds in C-Mn steel test panels prepared with a range of cored wires have been established using arc welding procedures which reflect typical fabrication practice. Weld metal mechanical properties were assessed by tensile tests, Charpy V tests and, for selected welds, CTOD tests. A comparison with the relevant AWS code showed that the majority of consumables tested met the specification requirements in terms of yield and tensile strength, but not always in terms of Charpy V toughness. A range of weld metal toughness values was measured depending on the consumable and the welding procedure used. Good low temperature Charpy V and CTOD weld metal toughness could be achieved wiih both gas-shielded and self-shielded wires, albeit with careful control of weld procedure. The use of flux-cored wires for applications with critical mechanical property requirements, e.g. fabrication of pressure vessels and offshore structures, has been considered. Correlations between the Charpy V and CTOD toughness data have also been explored.