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ML00013 - Apr.2017

Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain

Micrography of a longitudinal section of the mooring chain, at the main crack position. The crack follows a network of segregations.

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of a of the mooring chain, at the main position. The follows a network of segregations.
M

Material

Low Alloy Low Carbon QT
  • DNV OS-E302 R3
Ds

Description

The high strenght banitic of the mooring chain is slightly changed in the autogenous flash butt but the hardness in the weld is 260HV10 and the rupture of the is in the at US 727MPa. The mooring chain presented a , parallel to the flash butt welded region, detected only after several years of operation. The crack is the result of propagation of liquation formed during , due to base metal impurities.

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Chemistry (% in weight)

Chain Product Analysis

0.27C; 0.25Si; 1.90Mn; 0.038P; 0.033S; 0.17Cr; 0.04Ni; 0.03Mo.

Associated Images
Mooring chain aspect, after several years of operation. Transverse cracking, revealed by dye check, close to the flash butt weld.
441
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Aspect by NDTDf - Crack
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the mooring chain in the base metal. The low magnification reveals the banded structure of the rolled bar. The base metal microstructure is bainitic..
79
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Banded Structure
Micrographic detail of the bainitic microstructure of the base metal in the longitudinal section.
72
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Bainite
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the mooring chain at the flash welded region. The banded structure is deformed by the upset, close to the weld metal that is ferritic-bainitic.
61
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Bainitic Ferrite
Micrographic detail of the ferritic-bainitic weld metal, autogenous flash butt weld.
56
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Bainitic Ferrite
Welded region etched to reveal impurities. The banded structure creates a continuous network parallel to the weld metal.
50
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Micro by OM, picric acid+FeCl3+H2O etchDf - Segregated Regions
Longitudinal section of the mooring chain at the welded region in a position where the crack did not propagate to the surface yet. It is possible to see the crack parallel to the butt weld and presenting an irregular shape.
57
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - NItal Etched MacroDf - Crack
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the mooring chain, at the main crack position. The crack follows a network of segregations.
48
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Segregated Regions
Micrographic detail of the microcracks associated to segregated regions in a network morphology, probably due to the flash welding temperature and upset.
50
VIEW
ML00013 / Apr.2017
Welding Cracks in Mooring Chain
M - Low Alloy Low Carbon QTP - Welded PartAp - OffshoreCd - Welding Defect
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Non Metallic Inclusions