IIW-IX-2191-06

Creep rupture properties and fracture type of dissimilar welded joint

Masayoshi.YAMAZAKITakashi WATANABE, Hiromichi HONGO and Masaaki TABUCHI

National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)

Contributing person:

Masayoshi YAMAZAKI

Address: Materials Database Station,

National Institute for Materials science
2-2-54 Naka-meguro Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0061 JAPAN
Tel : +81-35768-7601, Fax : +81-3-3713-6577
E-mail:

yamazaki.masayoshi@nims.go.jp

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Abstract:
By conducting long-term creep rupture tests for the dissimilar welded joints
(9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb / Inconel82 / SUS304 ), creep rupture properties and microstructures
were examined, and the relationships between changes in microstructures and
nucleation and propagation of creep cracks that occur during creep deformation in
welded joint specimens were studied. Creep rupture tests were conducted at three
temperatures: 823 K, 873 K, and 923 K, under applied stresses of 160240 MPa,
80160 MPa, and 4080 MPa, respectively. The creep-rupture strength of dissimilar
welded joints specimen were lower than that of the base metal specimen at all
temperature levels. In addition, the differences in creep strength between the dissimilar
welded joint specimen and the base metal specimen tended to be greater at higher
temperature levels. The fracture type mod of dissimilar welded joint was transformed
from a Type V fracture and a Type VII fracture mod to a Type IV fracture mod
following long-term creep rupture tests.

The fracture type of the dissimilar welded

joints was predicted that Type IV fracture mod at 823 K and 873 K and at the rupture
occurring after 100,000 hours.

Key words: dissimilar welded joints; mechanical properties; creep rupture properties;
fracture type

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1. Introduction
SUS 304 and Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel are used mostly in thermal / nuclear power
plants owing to its high strength at high temperatures[1-9]. In the structural
components after long-term service at high temperature, however, fracture
occurred mainly not in the base metal part but in the weldments. Recently,
nucleation and propagation of creep cracks (the fracture is now recognized
as Type IV fracture) in the fine-grained HAZ (Heat Affected Zone) regions
of Mod.9Cr-1Mo welded joints after long-term service, has become a world
wide problem to solve. The results of these investigations have shown that
Type IV fracture occurred in the welded joint specimens in lower-stress
creep regions [10-14]. Researches have also been conducted on creep
rupture properties of dissimilar welded joint specimen cut out of
weldments. Creep rupture properties and microstructural changes were
examined in this study by conducting long-term creep rupture tests on
dissimilar welded joint specimens of SUS 304 and Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel. The
relationship between changes in microstructure and nucleation and
propagation of creep cracks occurring during creep deformation of
dissimilar welded joint specimens was studied.
2. Preparation of dissimilar welded joints and sampling of welded joint
specimens
SUS304-HP and 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb Steel plates, each with a thickness of 25 mm, were
used to manufacture the weldments. The welding material used for buttering and butt
welding was WEL-82. The first step in the welding process was the butt welding of
the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel plate using wire, WEL-82. Next, a postweld heat treatment
(PWHT) was conducted at a temperature of 1003 K for 8.4 h. Lastly, butt welding
with the SUS304-HP steel plate was conducted using the same type of wire as in the
buttering procedure. This welding process is shown in Fig. 1. The process used for
both butt welding and butt welding was gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). The
chemical compositions of the base metal and the weld metal, and the
welding condition together with the welding build-up sequence are
shown in Table 1 and 2, respectively. Fig.2 shows macrostructure of the
cross sectional area in the welded joint of the plate. X-ray inspection of
the welded joint revealed no defects. The white spot, seen in Fig. 2, at the
center of the plate is an indentation that resulted from the hardness testing.
Flat plate-type creep specimens with a width of 5 mm, thickness of 17.5
mm, and gauge length of 100 mm were sampled in the direction
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perpendicular to the weld line of the welded joint, with the section butt
welding part located in the center of the gauge portion of the specimen.
Fig.3 shows sampling location of the flat plate-type creep specimen.
3. Experimental method
The rate of strain for the elevated temperature tensile test was 5%/min. The tests were
conducted at room temperature, 823 K, 873 K, and 923K. Creep rupture tests
were conducted at 3 temperatures: 823 K, 873 K, and 923 K, under
applied stresses of 160240 MPa, 80160 MPa, and 4080 MPa,
respectively.

Hardness

measurements

were

carried

out

using

micro-Vickers hardness testing machine with a measuring pitch of 0.3

mm, load of 4.9 N, and a holding time 30 seconds, beginning at the HAZ
opposite the fracture surface of the specimen, using the bond line as a
start line. The average linear expansion coefficients of the three used steel were
measured using thermal analysis equipment. Microstructural observations of
as-received material (They were called as-welded condition) and
ruptured specimens were made using an optical microscope, a scanning
electron microscope (SEM).
4. Results and discussion
4.1 The linear expansion coefficient and the hardness distribution of dissimilar
welded joints
In general, there was a significant difference between the linear expansion
coefficients for the ferrite and austenitic steels. As a result, surface cracking occurred
when the dissimilar welded joints, connecting these dissimilar types of steel, came
into direct contact with heat. The average coefficient of linear expansion for the three
types of steel at around the service temperature is shown in Fig. 4. The coefficients of
linear expansion, for each type of steel, increased with increasing temperature.
Furthermore, the coefficients were larger in the order of 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb, Inconel 82,
and SUS304 steels. Thus, it was estimated that the Inconel 82 steel that we used as
welding material, i.e., a cushioning material, for this experiment had a mean
coefficient of linear expansion that was intermediate to those of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb
and SUS304 steel.
The hardness distribution of the dissimilar welded joints, prior to testing, is shown in
Fig. 5. The hardness of the section of 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel ranged from 220-230 HV.
In contrast, the hardness of the Inconel 82 steel section showed a convex shape
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distribution. The maximum value was approximately 250 HV. The section of
SUS304 steel had a hardness of approximately 180190 HV.
4.2 The relationship between mechanical properties and rupture location
The tensile strength of the dissimilar welded joint with those made from the
9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel [15] and SUS304 base metals. are shown in Fig. 6. The tensile
strength of the dissimilar welded joints decreased with increasing temperature.
Figure 7 shows the appearance of the specimen, ruptured during the
elevated-temperature tensile test. At room temperature, the rupture occurred at the
part of buttering, whereas at 823 K, the rupture occurred on the SUS304 steel side. In
contrast, at a temperature of 873 K and 923K, the ruptures occurred on the
9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb side. Thus, it was determined that the rupture location in the
elevated-temperature tensile test of the dissimilar welded joints varied according to
the tensile strength of the base metal.
4.3 The relationship between long-term creep rupture properties and rupture
location
In this section, we describe the creep rupture properties of the dissimilar welded
joints and the rupture location of all ruptured specimens, after long-term exposures to
elevated temperature. The stress-rupture time curves of the dissimilar welded joints
with the results of the base metal specimen of 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel xx) are shown in
Fig. 8.. The creep rupture strength of the dissimilar welded joint specimen was less
than that of the base metal specimen at each temperaturel. Furthermore, the
differences in creep strength between the dissimilar welded joint and base metal
specimen tended to increase with increasing temperature.
Figure 9 shows the overall appearance and the structure of a cross section of a
ruptured region following the 823 K, 160 MPa, and 17198 h. There was no
significant deformation on the rupture specimen and the rupture appeared to be brittle.
A flat fracture surface was observed on each section (Fig. 9a, b, and c). In addition,
the structure of the ruptured region, examined under an optical microscope, occurred
at the interface of the heat affected zoneHAZof the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel and
Inconel 82 in each case.
Figure 10 shows the overall appearance of the specimen, the ruptured area, and the
structure of a cross section of this area under the 923 K, 40 MPa, and 27536 h.
The rupture section appeared to be strongly oxidized (Fig. 10a, b, and c) when
observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition, an examination of
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the structure of the ruptured area under the optical microscope showed that, in each
case, the rupture occurred in the fine-grained region of the heat affected zoneHAZ
of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel.
Our results show that, at 823 K, the rupture location moved from the base metal of
the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel to the interface of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel and the Inconel
82, which is called a combination failure, as the conditions changed from high to low
stress and long term of exposure. The rupture location at 873 K and 923K moved
from the base metal to the fine-grained region of the 9Cr-1Mo steel HAZ.
Furthermore, the results of the microstructural observations, as shown in Figs. 9 and
10, demonstrated that the cause of the interfacial failure of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel
HAZ and the Inconel 82 steel, which is a creep rupture resulting from long-term
exposure, 823 K, and the cause of the rupture in the fine-grained region of
9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel HAZ, which was the creep rupture resulting from long-term
exposure. 923 K are considered as follows: The SUS304 steel side of the dissimilar
welded joints appeared to have significantly hardened areas at their interfaces due to
the heat cycle at the time of the butt welding process xx). In contrast, on the side made
of 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel, the remaining stress of the interface area was removed due
to the post weld heat treatment, which was conducted after buttering with Incone1 82.
Therefore, as shown in the schematic of the dissimilar welding interfaces in Fig. 11,
the creep deformation of the interface area on the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel side was
larger than that on SUS304 steel side, and the shearing stress exerted on the interface
was greater, accordingly.
This can be the cause of the rupture that occurred at the interface of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb
HAZ and the Inconel 82, creep rupture following long-term , 823 K. However, the
long-term creep rupture test, at a temperature of 873 K and higher, showed that the
effect of cohesion and coarsening of carbide and creep void generation in the
fine-grained region of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel HAZ was greater than that caused by
the shearing stress, exerted at the interface area of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel. It is
possible that this resulted in the rupture that occurred in the fine-grained region of the
9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel HAZ, i.e., creep rupture that occurred following a long term of
exposure to a temperature of 923 K.
4.4 Fracture type of dissimilar welding joints specimen
Weld-zone rupture types of similar and are shown in the schematic illustrated in Fig. 12.
Conventionally, the rupture types are classified as Type 1 to Type IV, based on the
rupture location of the weld zone of similar welding joints. Each type is defined as
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follows:
Type I : Rupture that generates cracks only in the weld metal
Type II : Rupture that generates cracks across the range of the weld metal and at the
coarse region of basemetal HAZ
Type III : Rupture that generates cracks only in the coarse region of the base metal
HAZ
Type IV :

Rupture that generates cracks only in the fine-grained region of the base

metal HAZ.
However, rupture locations differed among dissimilar welding joints. Thus, new
classifications from Type V to Type VII are defined expediently as follows:
Type V :

Rupture that generates cracks only in the base metal 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel

Type VI : Rupture that generates cracks ranging from the interface of the
9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel HAZ and the Inconel82, to the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel
HAZ and the base metal 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel.
Type VII : Rupture that generates cracks at the interface of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel
HAZ and the Inconel82.
Figure 13 shows the fracture type of the dissimilar welded joint specimen under
temperature / stress treatments, determined by observing fracture surfaces. At 823 K
and 240 / 200 MPa, the rupture was a Type VI. At 160 MPa, the rupture was a Type VII.
At a temperature of 873 K and stress of 160 MPa, the rupture was a Type V, and at less
than 120 MPa, the rupture was Type IV. Under lower stress, i.e., 80 MPa, the rupture
was a mixed fracture of Type III and Type IV. At the high temperature, 923 K, the
rupture was a Type IV,. As shown above, and in the results of our long-term creep
rupture test, at given temperatures and stress levels, it has been determined that the
fracture type of the dissimilar welded joints was transformed from a Type V to a Type
VII and Type IV fractures.
Figure 14 shows the relationship between the creep rupture properties and fracture type
of the dissimilar welded joints, which was estimate using the Larson-Miller parameter
xx)

. The fracture type of the dissimilar welded joints was predicted Type IV fracture

mod at 823 K and 873 K and at the rupture occurring after 100,000 hours.
5. Conclusions
Mechanical properties such as the creep rupture properties of dissimilar welded joints
were investigated under various elevated temperature levels. At the same time, changes
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in the fracture location of the dissimilar welded parts under various temperature and
stress treatments were investigated. The findings are as follows:
(1) The elevated temperature tensile test on dissimilar welded joints demonstrated that
the changes in the rupture locations were dependent upon the tensile strength of
the basemetall.
(2) Creep rupture strength of the dissimilar welded joint specimen was less than that of
the base metal specimen at all temperature levels. In addition, the differences in
creep strength between the welded joint and the base metal specimen tended to be
greater with increasing temperature.
(3) At 823 K, 160 MPa, 17198 h, the rupture specimen had been fractured at the
interface of the 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel HAZ and the Incone182. It is believed that this
was caused by the shearing stress, exerted at the interface.
(4) The fracture type of the dissimilar welded joints observed in the creep rupture test
was transformed from a Type V, Type VII fracture to a Type IV fracture mod.
(5) The fracture type of the dissimilar welded joints was predicted Type IV fracture
mod at 823 K and 873 K and at the rupture occurring after 100,000 hours.
Acknowledgement
This experiment was funded by a grant from the Nuclear Research Fund, established by
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, on behalf of the
Atomic Energy Board.
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Long-term

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Simulated

HAZ

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Y.Yamazaki,

H.Hongo,

K.Kinugawa

and

Y.Monma.Multi-Layer Welded 2.25Cr-1Mo Steel : Creep-Rupture

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and

HAZ

Microstructure

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Large

Joints.J.Soc.Mat.Sci.,Japan,1996;45:430-436,[in Japanese].
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Joint

of

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9Cr

Ferritic

Heat

Resistant

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steel weld with post weld heat treatment. Int. J. Pres. Ves. &
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Table . Chemical composi tions of 9Cr-1Mo-V-NbInconel 82 and

SUS 304 steels. (mass%)

Materials
C
0.10
9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb
Inco.82 (WEL-82) 0.03
0.06
SUS 304
Materials
Cu
9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb 0.012
Inco.82 (WEL-82) 0.01
SUS 304

Si

Mn

Ni

Cr

Mo

0.24
0.21
0.52

0.44
2.99
0.93

0.005
0.003
0.029

0.001
0.001
0.008

0.04
73.74
8.89

8.74
18.54
18.32

0.94

Nb+Ta

Ti

Fe

Al

Nb

0.21

0.014

0.076

1.39

0.058
2.68

0.28

Table . Procedure of gas tungsten arc

Wel

Butteri

Butt

Groov

Wir

WEL-8

WEL-8

Welding current

23

Arc

10.

10.

voltage

Welding

speed

Heat

input

Interpass

temp.

PWHT

200

1.4
493
1003

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