Experimental and numerical modeling study of solidification cracking in Alloy 52M filler metal in the cast pin tear test

Abstract

Finite element analysis (FEA) model of the solidification process in the cast pin tear test (CPTT) was developed using the commercial software ProCAST™. Modeling predictions of the solidification and strain accumulation sequences and of the cracking sensitive region location were validated using parallel CPTT testing of Alloy 52M filler metal. Predicted pin length dependences of the hot tearing indicator (HTI) and the effective plastic strain (EPS) were in good correlation with the experimentally determined zero to 100% CPTT cracking curve in Alloy 52\xa0M. Sensitivity study with the developed model identified material properties and test parameters with strong influence on the accuracy of modeling predictions. Parallel computational modeling and CPTT experimentation was performed to quantify the critical strain for solidification cracking in Alloy 52M filler metal. This study demonstrated that numerical modeling of weldability tests can be used for quantification of material-specific properties related to cracking susceptibility in engineering alloys.