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ML00052 - Apr.2017donated by: David Hadjadj

Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part

Micrographic detail of the weld metal presenting 100% of acicular ferrite. Although the adopted filler metal was of a low strenght type, the dilution of the tube chemistry in the weld created a typically high strenght weld metal.

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Micrographic detail of the presenting 100% of . Although the adopted was of a low strenght type, the of the chemistry in the weld created a typically high strenght .
M

Material

Low Alloy Steel
  • ASTM A 36
  • NF EN 10025-2
  • API 5CT L80 type 1
  • NF EN ISO 11960
Ds

Description

The L80 was welded to a adopting a (WPS) qualified for structural parts but not suitable for this high hardenability . Cold were detected during inspection of the . For the single fillet, the of the plate is bainitic and for the tube is martensitic. The of high carbon in the weld makes it , but there are high dilution zones that show large microestructural differences.

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Chemistry (% in weight)

Plate Product Analysis

0.18C; 0.23Si; 0.85Mn; 0.024P; 0.015S.

Tube Product Analysis

0.43C; 0.23Si; 1.74Mn; 0.019P; 0.010S; 0.05Cr; 0.02Ni; 0.14Mo.

Associated Images
Macrography showing the different regions of a pipe-to-plate fillet weld. See the schematic drawing in the next image
954
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - NItal Etched MacroDf - Fracture
Schematic drawing presenting the different regions of a pipe-to-plate fillet weld.
71
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Identification drawingDf - Fracture
Macrography of the fillet welded joint between the 3" ND tube and the 3/4" thick plate. See the schematic drawing in the next figure
56
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - NItal Etched MacroDf - Welded Joint
Schematic drawing presenting the position of the cracking, at the margin of the weld in the tube and underbead.
47
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Identification drawingDf - Welded Joint
The micrography shows the region underbead, of the tube HAZ, responsible for the hydrogen cracking (fracture in the right side of the photo - black). The hardness of the HAZ is about 600 HV.
55
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Cracking
Low carbon plate base metal presenting the ferritic perlitic structure.
55
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Base Metal
High Strenght Low Alloy steel tube, base metal, presenting the bainitic structure.
54
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Base Metal
Micrography of the low carbon steel plate at the fusion line, presenting a bainitic structure at the HAZ and ferritic structure in the weld metal.
82
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Fusion Line
The micrography shows the martensitic region of the tube HAZ responsible for the hydrogen cracking, presenting too high hardness level (600 HV). It is a fresh martensite since the joint was welded in one pass and there was no PWHT.
45
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Micrography of the weld metal in the center of the fillet showing a 100% acicular ferrite that is a microestructure of a high strenght steel, evidenced the effect of the dilution of the tube chemistry in the weld metal.
40
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Weld Metal
Micrography of the low alloy steel tube at the fusion line, presenting a martensitic structure at the HAZ and acicular ferrite in the weld metal.
41
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Fusion Line
Micrographic detail of the bainitic structure at the HAZ of the carbon steel plate, by scanning electron microscopy.
40
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by SEMDf - Heat Affected Zone
Micrographic detail of the ferritic structure in the weld metal close to the low alloy steel tube, by scanning electron microscopy. The weld metal presents a typical aspect for high strenght weld metal (100% acicular ferrite).
32
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by SEMDf - Weld Metal
Micrographic detail of the fusion line of the carbon steel plate, by scanning electron microscopy, showing the bainitic structure at the HAZ and ferritic structure in the weld metal.
34
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by SEMDf - Fusion Line
Micrographic detail of the ferritic structure in the weld metal close to the carbon steel plate, by scanning electron microscopy. The weld metal presents a typical aspect for low strenght weld metal (grain boundary and primary ferrite, plus acicular ferrite).
30
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by SEMDf - Weld Metal
Micrographic detail of the fusion line of the low alloy steel tube, by scanning electron microscopy, showing the martensitic structure at the HAZ and acicular ferritic structure in the weld metal.
29
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by SEMDf - Fusion Line
Micrographic detail of the martensitic structure at the HAZ of the low alloy steel tube, by scanning electron microscopy.
40
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - Heat Affected Zone
Micrographic detail of the weld metal presenting 100% of acicular ferrite. Although the adopted filler metal was of a low strenght type, the dilution of the tube chemistry in the weld created a typically high strenght weld metal.
26
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by SEMDf - Weld Metal
Micrographic detail in higher magnification of the weld metal presenting 100% of acicular ferrite. It is interesting to observe that the previous austenite grain boundary can be seen but there is no primary ferrite in the grain boundary.
36
VIEW
ML00052 / Apr.2017
Cold Cracks in API 5CT L80 Tube Welded to a Structural Part
M - Low Alloy SteelP - Seamless tubeAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by SEMDf - Weld Metal