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Welding Procedure Specification For Arc Welding of ST 52-3N Steel Plates With Covered Electrodes
Welding Procedure Specification For Arc Welding of ST 52-3N Steel Plates With Covered Electrodes
Abstract: In this paper the results of approval welding technology for arc welding of plates made of St 52-3N steel
are presented. Metal arc welding with covered electrode is used welding process. Test specimens are butt welded in
different welding positions PA,PF,Pcand PD. Before start welding preliminary welding procedure was prepared. After
welding of test specimens non destructive and destructive testing was performed. Obtained results were compared
with standard DIN 17100 which concerns to chemical composition and mechanical properties of base material. It
was confirmed that in all cases mechanical properties of welded joint are higher than those of base material, so
preliminary welding procedure (pWPS) can be accepted as welding procedure specification WPS for metal arc
welding of St52-3N steel.
INTRODUCTION
Welding is a special process which requires the coordination of welding operation in order to establish
confidence in welding fabrication and reliable performance in service. The tasks and responsibilities of
personnel involved in welding related activities, e.g. planning, executing, supervising and inspection,
should be clearly defined. Welding is considered a special process in the terminology of standards for
quality systems. Standards for quality systems usually require that special processes be carried out in
accordance with written procedure specifications. So welding procedure specifications are needed in order
to provide a well-defined basis for planning of the welding operations and for quality control during
welding. It can be said that Welding procedure (WP) is a specified course of action to be followed in
making a weld, inducing reference to materials, preparation, preheating (if necessary), method and control
of welding and post-weld heat treatment (if relevant), and necessary equipment to be used. But as first
Preliminary welding procedure specification (pWPS) has to be prepared. Preliminary welding procedure
specification is a tentative welding procedure specification, which is assumed to be adequate by the
manufacturer, but which has not been approved. Welding of test pieces is needed for approval of a
welding procedure specification and has to be carried out on the basis of a preliminary welding procedure
specification. If standard requirements are fulfilled, welding procedure specification (WPS) become a
document providing in detail the required variables for a specific application to assure repeatability.
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a b
Figure 2 Groove preparation for specimens P A ,PF and PG (a) and Pc (b)
Recommended preheating temperature is 100 °C (determined by method of Seferian). The edges of
welding plates are grinded before start of welding.
Used welding parameters are given in tables 1-4, and figures 3.
lable 1 Number of runs and order of filling out the groove for PA welding position
Travel
Electrode Current Voltage
Run Process Type of current / polarity speed
diameter [A] [V] [mm/min]
1 Traveling EVB50 (t>3.2 110-120 19-20 DC/inverted polarity 100 -105
2 Traveling EVB50 <()4 180 -190 22-23 DC/inverted polarity 105-110
3 Traveling EVB50 <J»5 230 - 240 23-24 DC/inverted polarity 90 - 95
4 Traveling EVB50 <1>5 230 - 240 23-24 DC/inverted polarity 95 -100
5 Traveling EVB50 <>
t 4 180 -190 22-23 DC/inverted polarity 105-110
6 Traveling EVB50 <))4 180 -190 22-23 DC/inverted polarity 105-110
7 Traveling EVB50 <H 180 -190 22-23 DC/inverted polarity 120 -125
Table 3 Number of runs and order of filling out the groove for P c welding position
Travel
Electrode Current Voltage
Run Process Type of current / polarity speed
diameter [A] [V]
[mm/min]
1 • Traveling - EVB50 03.2 110-120 19-20 DC/inverted polarity 75-80
2 Traveling EVB50 04 150 - 170 20-21 DC/inverted polarity 120 -125
3. Traveling EVB50 05 200-210 22-23 DC/inverted polarity 175 - 180
4 Traveling EVB50 04 200 - 210 22-23 DC/inverted polarity 165 -170
5 Traveling EVB50 04 160 -170 20-21 DC/inverted polarity 220 - 225
6 Traveling EVB50 04 160 -170 20-21 DC/inverted polarity 125 -126
7 Traveling EVB50 04 170-180 20-21 DC/inverted polarity 125 -130
8 Traveling EVB50 04 160 -170 20-21 DC/inverted polarity 125-130
Table 4 Number of runs and order of filing out the groove for PE welding position
Travel
Electrode Current Voltage
Run Process Type of current / polarity speed
diameter [A] [V]
[mm/min]
1 Traveling EVB50 03.2 110-120 18-19 DC/inverted polarity 70-75
2 Traveling EVB50, 04 140 - 150 20-21 DC/inverted polarity 90-95
3 Traveling EVB50 05 200 - 210 22-23 DC/inverted polarity 85-90
4 Traveling EVB50 04 130 - 140 19-20 DC/inverted polarity 70-75
5 Traveling EVB50 04 130 -140 19-20 DC/inverted polarity 85-90
6 Traveling EVB50 04 130 -140 19-20 DC/inverted polarity 90-95
7 Traveling EVB50 04 120 - 130 19-20 DC/inverted polarity 65-70
PF
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Pc PE
Figure 3 Number of runs and order of filing out the groove for different welding position
DESTRUCTIVE TESTS
Machining probes for destructive testing from test specimens is given in figure 5.
Specimens and testing for transverse tensile testing for butt joint are in accordance with ISO 4136. One
probe for each specimen (welding position is used). Comparing obtained results (Table 6), and the values
for mechanical properties according to DIN 17100 standard (R^ = 345; Rm = 490-r630; A5(%) = 22t, 201),
it can be seen that obtained results are in all cases higher than the values for base material.
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Specimens and testing for bend testing for butt joints shall be in accordance with EN 910. The bending
angle should be minimum of 120°, and in our tests angle of 180° were obtained. Two probes were
prepared from each test specimen. As can be seen from Table 7 all results are allowed.
Table 7 Result of bending test
Specimen Bending 180°
PΑ allowed
PF allowed
Pc allowed
PE allowed
Test specimens and testing for impact tests for butt joints are in accordance with EN 288-3 for position of
specimens and temperature of testing, and with EN 875 for dimensions and testing. Testing of base metal,
welds and HAZ was performed. Machining probes for impact testing is shown in figure 6. Test
temperature was -20 °C. Minimum value for impact energy, according Din 17100 is 27 J. It can be seen
from Table 8, that all results are much higher than this value. Significant differences between obtained
results can be explained by heterogeneity of microstructure, because welding was performed with many
runs.
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PF 70 152 120
70 158 112
101 147 132
86 154 141
PD 80 125 137
63 137 163
The method of hardness testing shall be in accordance with EN 1043. The Vickers method HV10 was
used. The indentation was made in the weld, the HAZs and the base metal. Maximum hardness values
allowed with standard for this group of steel is 380 HV10 (without heat treatment).
Measured hardness values on test specimens are following:
Weld: 159 - 179 HV10
HAZ: 159-183HV10
Base metal 136-140 HV10
Those values are much lower from the values given in standard, and confirmed good welding parameters.
Metallographic testing
The test specimen for macro-examination was prepared and etched on one side in accordance with
EN 1321, to clearly reveal the fusion line, the HAZ and the build up of the runs. Unallowed defect were
no detected. Detailed microstructural examination was carried out to detect characteristic
microconstituents in welded joints, figure 7 (a-e). Microstructure of weld metal (fig 7a) consists of
proeutectoide ferrite which forms at higher transformation temperatures, at the boundaries of primary
austenite grains. Inside the grains, acicular ferrite is formed. This microconstituent enables high tensile
properties and very good impact toughness. Microstructure of coarse grained HAZ consists of ferrite and
bainite and generally has worsened properties, especially impact toughness (7b). The best mechanical
properties has fine grained HAZ which consists of equiaxed bainitic-ferrite grains, figure 7c. Intercritically
HAZ, formed as results of non complete y/a transformation is shown at figure 7d. It could have worsened
properties as a result of martensite forming during subsequent cooling. Striped ferrite-pearlite
microstructure is presented at figure 7e.
a *V '
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• e
Figure 7(a-e) Microstructure of test specimen PA, x500 a. weld metal b. coarse grained HAZ c. fine grained HAZ d.
Intercritically HAZ e. base metal
CONCLUSIONS
Basic idea of this paper was preparing of welding technology for steel plates made of St 52-3N in
accordance with EN 288 standard.
Concerning that, preliminary welding specification was written following standard requirements.
Test specimens for butt welds in positions PA, PF> P c and PD were prepared and welded according
preliminary welding procedure specification.
Non destructive and destructive tests were carried out to test specimens. Radiographic and visual
inspection didn't reveal presence of any significant imperfections. Results of mechanical properties of
welded joint were compared with requirements of DIN 17100 standard, for base material.. It was
confirmed that test results are higher than standard's requirements.
So, preliminary welding specification, become approved welding procedure for metal arc welding of steel
plates, made of St 52-3N plates.
Proceedings of 3rd BMC-2003-Ohrid, R. Macedonia 159
APPROVAL TECHNOLOGY FOR ARC WELDING OF St 52-3N STEEL PLATES WITH...
Literature:
1. EN 287-1 Approval testing of welders - Fusion welding - Part 1 - Steels;
2. EN 288-1 Specifications and approval of welding procedure for metallic materials - Part 1 - General
rules for fusion welding;
3. EN 288-2 Specification and approval of welding procedure for metallic material - part 2 Welding
procedure specification for arc welding;
4. EN 288-3 Specification and approval of welding procedure for metallic material - part 3 Welding
procedure tests for the arc welding of steels;
5. EN 1043 Welded joints in metallic materials - Hardness testing;
6. EN 910 Welded butt joints in metallic materials - Bend tests;
7. EN 895 Welded butt joints in metallic materials - Transverse tensile tests;
8. EN 875 Welded butt joints in metallic materials - Specimen, location and notch orientation for impact
test;
9. EN 26620 Classification of imperfections in metallic fusion welds, with explanations;
10. ISO 1106-1 Recommended practice for radiographic examination of fusion welded joints -Part 1
Fusion welded butt joints in steel up to 50 mm thick;
11. ISO 4063 Welding brazing and soldering processes and braze welding of metals - Nomenclature of
processes and reference numbers for symbolic presentation on drawings;
12. ISO 6947 Welds - Working positions - Definitions of angles slope and rotations.