Fracture toughness in the circumferential-longitudinal and circumferential-radial directions of longitudinal weld API 5L X52 pipeline using standard C(T) and nonstandard curved SE(B) specimens

D. Angeles-Herrera, A. Albiter-Hernández, R. Cuamatzi-Meléndez, J. L. González-Velázquez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this work the fracture toughness of a longitudinal submerged arc-welding (SAW) seam weld API 5L X52 pipeline of 36 in. diameter and 1 in. thickness, was evaluated and compared in the circumferential-longitudinal (CL) and circumferential-radial (CR) directions. These tests were evaluated by means of compact tension C(T) specimens and nonstandard curved SE(B) specimens, respectively. The K function of the nonstandard curved SE(B) specimens was experimentally calibrated using the compliance experimental technique. The crack initiating notch was aligned in the longitudinal weld direction so the crack propagated through the deposited metal zone for both specimens. The laboratory tests were performed at room temperature. The KICaverage value in the CL direction was 75.4 ± 3.22 MPa m, and for the CR direction was 56.3 ± 2.9 MPa m. The results showed a large difference of KIC KICvalues for each direction analyzed, which was attributed to the anisotropic properties of the weld metal, particularly in the CR direction, where the predominance of acicular ferrite grains (fragile zones) and the porosity provided a favorable crack propagation direction for separation of the fracture plane, resulting in low fracture toughness values in this direction. Finally the fractographic analysis showed that the deposited metal zone consisted of a mixture of acicular ferrite and ferrite grains, presenting a ductile behavior with dimple coalescence in the CL direction and a fragile behavior exhibiting cleavage regions that corresponded to acicular ferrite grains in the CR direction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)251-256
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Fracture
Volume188
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Circumferential-longitudinal direction (CL)
  • Circumferential-radial direction (CR)
  • Heat affected zone (HAZ)
  • Submerged arc-welding (SAW)

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