Shuji Okaguchi

Morphology and properties of low-carbon bainite

Morphology of low-carbon bainite in commercial-grade high-tensile-strength steels in both isothermal transformation and continuous cooling transformation is lathlike ferrite elongated in the 〈11l〉b direction. Based on carbide distribution, three types of bainites are classified: Type I, is carbide-free, Type II has fine carbide platelets lying between laths, and Type III has carbides parallel to a specific ferrite plane. At the initial stage of transformation, upper bainitic ferrite forms a subunit elongated in the [−101]f which is nearly parallel to the [lll]b direction with the cross section a parallelogram shape. Coalescence of the subunit yields the lathlike bainite with the [−101]f growth direction and the habit plane between (232)f and (lll)f. Cementite particles precipitate on the sidewise growth tips of the Type II bainitic ferrite subunit. This results in the cementite platelet aligning parallel to a specific ferrite plane in the laths after coalescence. These morphologies of bainites are the same in various kinds of low-carbon high-strength steels. The lowest brittle-ductile transition temperature and the highest strength were obtained either by Type III bainite or bainite/martensite duplex structure because of the crack path limited by fine unit microstructure. It should also be noted that the tempered duplex structure has higher strength than the tempered martensite in the tempering temperature range between 200 °C and 500 °C. In the case of controlled rolling, the accelerated cooling afterward produces a complex structure comprised of ferrite, cementite, and martensite as well as BI-type bainite. Type I bainite in this structure is refined by controlled rolling and plays a very important role in improving the strength and toughness of low-carbon steels.

Morphology of bainite and widmanstätten ferrite

Morphology of bainite and Widmanstätten ferrite in various steels has been investigated by means of microstructural and surface relief observations. It was shown that upper and lower bainite should be classified by ferrite morphology,i.e., lathlike or platelike, and that the morphology of cementite precipitation cannot be the index for the classification. Widmanstätten ferrite formed in the upper C-nose where ferrite grain-boundary allotriomorphs nucleate exhibits quite similar appearance with bainitic ferrite that forms in the lower C-nose of bainitic reaction. The only difference between them exists in the fact that Widmanstätten ferrite laths grow in the temperature range where primary ferrite forms and often terminate at a grain boundary ferrite but that bainitic ferrite has its own C-curve at temperatures belowBs and nucleates directly at an austenite grain boundary. The mechanisms for their formations are discussed.

Property of X80 Grade SAW Pipes for Resistance to Ground Movement

It is aware that the expansion of gas utilization is an important issue to restrict CO2 emission. The reduction of gas transportation cost is essential to increase gas supply to market. The high-pressure gas pipeline with high strength pipes has contributed for safe and economical transportation of natural gas and is expected more for the future demand of gas. The primary objective of high strength line pipe is to hold high pressure safely. The property in circumferential direction under hoop stress is the primary target of the line pipe. High strength and high toughness steel at low temperature has been developed for large diameter line pipes, which have been supplied to major gas pipelines. The increase of D/T of pipelines for transportation efficiency tends to decrease critical compressive strain. Since long distance pipelines come across various ground conditions, the pipeline might encounter some serious ground movement. It is pointed out that in this event the strain by the ground movement might be high enough to deform pipelines to leak or rupture. There are various forms of ground movement, but the Japanese guideline for earthquake resistance and liquefaction is considered as basic conditions for SBD and for FEA in this study. The relation between pipe deformation and property in axial direction is investigated to identify the effective parameter to design the steel property for gas pipelines. Metallurgical factors and microstructure can change the parameters not only on strength and toughness, but also on the critical strain of X80 line pipes. It is discussed that the effectiveness of those changes to improve the safe operation of high-pressure gas pipelines with X80 grade line pipe.Copyright

Evaluation of Compressive Strain Limit of X80 Saw Pipes With Girth Welding by FE Analysis

The expansion of supply capacity of natural gas to market is expected from the concern of environmental conservation by less CO2 emission. Transportation cost has been focused for natural gas to be competitive in the market. High-pressure gas pipelines have constructed by large diameter and high strength line pipes to improve transportation efficiency of gas transmission pipelines. High strength line pipes have been developed to cope with high-pressure operation. Strength in circumferential direction on line pipe is the prime target to hold high pressure safely. In terms of pipe size, pipe diameter has been increased to lead larger D/t. Both of higher strength and larger D/t result in less favorable to deformability of pipeline. To apply strain based design to pipeline, the evaluation of strain capacity, which is related to deformability of line pipe, is required supposing the pipeline encounters large scale ground movement such as earthquake or landslide. It is not simple to find the criteria to prevent leak or rupture of pipeline in such events, as not only pipe property but also interaction between pipe and soil are needed to consider. Gas transmission pipelines are constructed by joint girth welding. The strain capacity of pipeline with girth weld has to be investigated for strain based design. Full scale bending test of joint welded pipe was conducted and FEA model to assess strain capacity of pipeline with girth weld is developed.Copyright

Effect of tensile strength and boron addition on microstructure and toughness of weld metal containing Ti

The practical strength of line pipe steel has extended to X80 or greater. The line pipes of X80 grade have been commercialised successfully and now the development and evaluation of X100 and X120 grade line pipes are being conducted. The effect of boron addition on the toughness and microstructure of seam weld metal was investigated in tensile strength range from 700 to 1100 MPa. Two types of weld metal were employed in this study. Type A weld metal was produced by boron added flux. The boron content in type A weld metal was around 30 ppm. Type B weld metal was produced by boron free flux. The boron content in type B weld metal was 15 ppm or less. In a tensile strength range less than 800 MPa, type B weld metal had lower absorbed energy than type A because of grain boundary ferrite formation. In a tensile strength range of 800 MPa or more, type B weld metal had greater absorbed energy than type A. In this tensile strength range, some of the acicular ferrite is replaced with bainite or bainite/martensite and the absorbed energy decreases with increase of tensile strength. And the type B weld metal had more amounts of acicular ferrite and greater absorbed energy than type A in this tensile strength range.

Development of High Strength Line Pipe for Sour Service and Full Ring Evaluation in Sour Environment

To establish mass production technology of high strength line pipe up to API-X70 grade for sour service, the HIC (Hydrogen Induced Cracking) phenomena in line pipe has been carefully examined. The micro-segregation zone originated at final solidification front, which has MnS inclusion and hard phase, was identified as the location of the initiation site of HIC. The proper procedures of Ca treatment to eliminate elongated MnS and TMCP application to reduce maximum hardness have proved to increase the HIC resistance in such segregation zone. In addition to the standard HIC test, full ring test under applied stress was conducted to assure the performance of high strength line pipe in sour service. The clean steel in mass production, which has enough HIC resistance, was attained for high strength line pipe up to API-X70.© 2004 ASME

Arc welding of annular seams under flux in high-strength X80 steel pipe

The relation between the content of martensitic-austenitic phase and the final temperature in accelerated cooling is investigated, in terms of the attainment of high deformability without failure. The ratio of the yield point to the strength (Y/T) in the longitudinal direction (L) of X80 steel pipe produced by UOE technology is found to be between 0.74–0.79. This indicates good deformability of the pipe. A welding technology has been developed such that the metal in the seam matches the strength of the X80 steel pipe. In industrial flexure tests, when the internal pressure is 72% of the standard yield point (SMYS) of X80 steel, the failure of X80 steel pipe welded by the given technology occurs in the basic metal, far from the annular weld.

Proposal of welding consumable of triplex stainless steel for ultrahigh strength steel

Abstract In order to develop a new welding consumable for the ultrahigh strength HT980 steel, the microstructural characteristics, tensile properties, low temperature toughness and weld cracking susceptibility were evaluated for triplex stainless steel weld metals. Steels of 13Cr–0·5Mo–Ni with varying contents of Ni and C were investigated. The amount of retained austenite increased with increasing Ni and C contents. The tensile strengths of the weld metals decreased while their impact absorbed energies increased with increasing amount of retained austenite. Hot cracking susceptibility of the weld metals minimised in that metal containing 40–50% δ-ferrite at the completion of solidification. The triplex stainless steel weld metals, except for those containing lower amounts of retained austenite, were negligibly susceptible to cold cracking. It may be possible to design a preheat free welding consumable from a triplex stainless steel in the compositional range containing 20–40% of retained austenite.

Pipe Bending Test With Girth Welding on X80 Grade SAW Pipes

This study was planned as a part of a test program to confirm the effect of girth welds on the strain capacity of pipes. In this study, full-scale pipe bending tests are performed by using X80 SAW pipe. This paper covers pipe manufacturing procedure, developed welding procedure to obtain even match weld metal and properties of welded joints. And this work demonstrated that the X80 pipes welded under the developed procedure fractured in base metal remote from girth welded portion by full scale pipe bending test conducted under the internal pressure of 72% SMYS of X80.Copyright

Development of 550 MPa Yield Strength Steel Plate for Offshore Structures

Offshore structure steel with high strength of YS550MPa has been investigated. As for offshore structure steel, high toughness in welded joints is required in addition to that in base metal. TMCP type steel of up to YS420MPa grade is used widely, and up to YS500MPa grade is reported in some papers. However, steel of higher strength grade with good toughness and weldability will be beneficial to structures in strict conditions. To reach the YS550MPa requirement, hardening effect by Cu precipitation was utilized. Steel plates were designed with micro-alloyed low C-Mn-Cu-Ni-Cr-Mo system. The combination of the copper precipitation and TMCP technology can increase strength without deteriorating toughness and weldability. Heat treatment for Cu precipitation was carried out to optimize the balance of strength and toughness of the base metal. The developed steel also shows good HAZ CTOD toughness up to 76.2mm thickness in several welding conditions including after PWHT. The newly developed steel has the possibility to increase the flexibility to design large-sized structures.© 2004 ASME