HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS 21

HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT

AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR
IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS
B.T. Alexandrov
Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria)
E-mail: balx@tu-sofia.bg

ABSTRACT
Modelling investigations, conducted to evaluate the influence of diffusion controlling factors on hydrogen behaviour
in welded joints, are described. It was found that neglecting or exaggerating influence of these factors when plotting
the temperature dependences of hydrogen diffusion coefficient could result in unreliable modelling solutions for
hydrogen behaviour. Creation of databases with general diffusion data for small groups of steels and weld metals
with similar alloying contents is suggested as a possible solution of the problem of correct accounting the influence
of diffusion controlling factors.

IIW-Thesaurus keywords: Structural steels; Hydrogen; Diffusion; Mathematical models; Influencing factors;
Temperature; Data; Diagrams; Austenite; Microstructure; Transformation; Welded joints; Weld metal; Heat affected
zone; Composition; Local effects; Reference lists.

1 INTRODUCTION 2 PROBLEMS IN PLOTTING OF TDHDC

The hydrogen diffusion coefficient (HDC) is a basic para-
meter of hydrogen behaviour during welding. It is used
in analytical modelling (through the thermal factor, ΣDiΔti)
for calculating the hydrogen content in welds at 100°C,
and in numerical modelling for simulating the hydrogen
distribution in welded joints. The reliability of modelling
solutions strongly depends on the correct plotting of the
temperature dependences of HDC (TDHDC). Most of
the available TDHDC curves are plotted by extrapolat-
ing experimental results obtained at equilibrium condi-
tions for the non-equilibrium conditions of welding, thus
ignoring in different extents the influence of diffusion
controlling factors.
The purpose of the present research is to evaluate the
influence of diffusion controlling factors on the thermal
factor (ΣDiΔti)100 and the local behaviour of hydrogen in
welded joints. Therefore, suitably plotted TDHDC curves
are used. The thermal factor is calculated using digitally
registered welding thermal cycles. The local behaviour
of hydrogen is investigated by numerical modelling.
It is shown that neglecting the influence of diffusion con-
trolling factors, when plotting TDHDC curves, results in
unreliable modelling solutions for the hydrogen behav-
iour. It is concluded that creating databases of general
TDHDCs, applicable to small groups of steels and weld
metals with similar alloying contents, is necessary for
correctly accounting the influence of diffusion control-
ling factors.
Doc. IIW-1614-03 (ex-doc. IX-2063-03) recommended
for publication by Commission IX “Behaviour of metals
subjected to welding”
Welding in the World, Vol. 47, n° 9/10, 2003
CURVES DURING WELDING
The microstructure of welded joints constitutes the dif-
fusion medium of hydrogen during welding. The prop-
erties of this medium are determined by the alloying
content and the thermal history of weld metal (WM),
heat affected zone (HAZ), and base metal (BM). It con-
trols the behaviour of hydrogen by the undercooled
austenite, phase transformations, and state of final
microstructure. These controlling factors are subjected
to dynamic changes and inhomogeneous distribution in
the non-equilibrium conditions of welding, which creates
substantial difficulties for the correct plotting of TDHDC
curves in welded joints.
The basic approaches for determining the TDHDC in
steel are shown in Fig. 1 and Table 1. The available
TDHDC curves used for modelling the hydrogen behav-
iour in welded joints are summarised in Table 2. Most
of these TDHDC curves extrapolate experimental
results, which are obtained at equilibrium conditions
(Fig. 1 and Table 1) for the non-equilibrium conditions
of welding, neglect various effects of the diffusion con-
trolling factors, and ignore their dynamic alteration and
inhomogeneous distribution. A direct application of such
TDHDC curves neglects the influence of some essen-
tial properties of the hydrogen diffusion medium and
may result in incorrect modelling solutions.
Analysing more than 300 references on the tempera-
ture dependence of HDC in steel, in 1995/96 Boel-
linghaus et al. published separate scatterbands and
average curves for HDC in microalloyed and low carbon
steels, low and high alloy steels with ferritic or marten-
sitic structure at room temperature, and high alloy
22 HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS

Table 1: Basic approaches used for plotting TDHDC curves in welded joints.

Temperature D0, Q,
Author Method of determining Metal Phase
range, °C cm /sec kal/mol
Sykes Calculations, based on solubility Pure Fe α-Fe 400-900 7.6 Σ-4 2,280
et al., [1] and permeability γ-Fe Tα-γ − 1,200 1.51 Σ-2 11,970
Johnson Desorption kinetics of hydrogen Pure Fe α-Fe < 200 1,23 Σ-1 7,820
& Hill, [2] from charged specimens > 250 1,4 Σ-3 3,200
Coe F.R., [3] Upper envelope curve of scatterband Ferritic steels α 20-90 8,66 Σ-2 6,165
90-700 1,4 Σ-3 3,200
Lower envelope curve of scatterband Ferritic steels α 20-150 3,8 Σ+2 16,605
150-700 1,05 Σ-3 3,910
Upper envelope curve of scatterband Austeniti γ 200-700 2,5 Σ-2 13,873
Lower envelope curve of scatterband c steels 200-700 2,75 Σ-2 14,797

diffusion controlling factors [22]. The inhomogeneous

distribution of these factors has been modelled by using
separate TDHDC curves for the WM, for the HAZ areas
heated to different maximum temperatures (1,050, 1,200
and 1,350°C), and for the BM. This set of TDHDC
curves, named here “the basic TDHDC curve”, is used
as a basis for comparison and evaluation of the diffusion
controlling factors’ influence level.

Fig. 1. Basic approaches, used for plotting
of TDHDC curves in welded joints. TDHDC
of Sykes et al. [1] and Johnson & Hill [2],
and scatterbands of Coe [3] for ferritic
and austenitic steels.
(............ – extrapolations to lower
or higher temperatures).
austenitic stainless steels [19, 20]. These scatterbands
and average curves were suggested for nummerical
analysis of hydrogen diffusion in steel weldments.
New method for plotting the TDHDC curves in welded
joints was proposed in [21], based on experimental
determining and modelling of HDC. A set of TDHDC
curves has been plotted by the help of this method for
welded joints in low alloy structural steel 23G2SAF
(Fig. 2), taking into consideration the influence of main
Fig. 2. TDHDC in 23G2SAF steel welded joints
for welding thermal cycle with Δt8/5 = 10 s [22].
3 INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES
3.1 Plotting of TDHDC curves
For the purpose of the present research, the complex
influence of microstructure on the hydrogen behaviour
in welded joints is represented by four factors:
– Undercooled austenite;
– Phase transformations;
– State of final microstructure;
– Inhomogeneous microstructure property distribution.
In order to evaluate the separate effect of each factor,
four sets of TDHDC curves are plotted, each of them
enveloping the whole range of influence of the corre-
sponding factor.
3.1.1 TDHDC curves for evaluating the influence
of undercooled austenite
Compared with austenitic steels, structural steels have
a considerably lower alloying level, which implies that
their TDHDC inside the range of undercooled austenite
should be placed between the scatterbands of Coe for
austenitic and ferritic materials, similarly to the basic
TDHDC (Fig. 2).
The upper enveloping TDHDC curve (designated as WM
max and HAZ max in Fig. 3) of the undercooled austen-
ite is plotted by extrapolating the curves of WM and BM
of the basic TDHDC (23G2SAF on Fig. 3) to higher tem-
peratures, thus completely ignoring its influence as in [9,
13, 14]. Coe’s scatter band for austenitic materials is
used for the bottom enveloping TDHDC (WM min and
HAZ min), in order to exaggerate the influence of this
factor, as in [5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12]. Below the phase
transformation finishing temperatures both enveloping
TDHDC completely coincide with the Basic one.
HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS 23

Table 2. TDHDC curves applied for modelling of hydrogen behaviour in welded joints

Author Metal Phase ΔT, °C Reference of TDHDC Note Application

[4] WM with α 50 - 500 Coe’s experiment [17] Calculation of τ = Σ Di Δti
McParlan various
et al. compositions γ 500 -1,500
[5] HT60, HT80, α 100 - 200 [2] Johnson and Hill Calculation of
Matsuda HY130, α 200 - 500 for α-Fe HR100 = Ho.f (Σ Di Δti)
et al. HY180 WM γ > 500 [1] Sykes et al. for γ-Fe
[6] WM, HAZ α < 250 [2] Johnson and Hill HR = Ho.f (Σ Di Δti);
Teraski α 250 - 500 for α-Fe Specimen dimensions for
et al. γ > 500 [1] Sykes et al. for γ-Fe measuring hydrogen in WM
[7] WM α < Tnp [3] Coe – scatterbands Enveloping and middle
Teraski α Tnp-Tφn of HDC for ferritic and curves from (Σ Di Δti)100 = f (t150)
et al. γ > Tφ n austenitic steels scatterbands
[8] WM: α 20 - 500 Experiment of the author Hydrogen macro
Takahashi 2.25 Cr - 1 Mo γ > 500 [1] Sykes et al. for γ-Fe distribution in WM
et al.
[9] Welded joint α < 200 [2] Johnson and Hill Hydrogen micro
Kikuta α, γ > 200 for α-Fe distribution in welded joint
et al.
[10] WM and HAZ α [2] Johnson and Hill In martensite Hydrogen distribution
Karchin for α-Fe DH = Dα.E-2 in welded joint
et al. γ [1] Sykes et al. for γ-Fe
[11] WM and HAZ α [2] Johnson and Hill In martensite and bainite Hydrogen micro
Karchin 15Ch2NMFA for α-Fe DH = Dα.E-2 distribution in welded joint
et al. γ [1] Sykes et al. for γ-Fe
[12] Welded joint α < 450 (600) [1] Sykes et al. for α-Fe Separately from DH Hydrogen behaviour
Andersson C-Mn steel γ > 600 (650) Η γ-Fe (for latice diffusion) takes into account in WM and HAZ
γ-α 600 - 450 logDH = κ/T reversal trapping
[13] WM, HAZ α 20 - 200 Author’s experiments 20 - 200°C by Arrhenius Hydrogen micro
Yurioka C-Mn steel at 20°C for WM equation separately distribution in welded joint
et al. and HAZ for WM and HAZ
α, γ > 200 [2] Johnson and Hill
for α-Fe
[14] HAZ, BM α 20 - 200 Experiments at 20°C 20 - 200°C by Arrhenius Micro distribution
Palazov for HAZ areas equation separately for of diffusible and trapped
with different Tmax WM, HAZ and BM hydrogen in welded joint
30ChGSA α, γ > 200 [2] Johnson and Hill
for α-Fe
[15] WM and HAZ α, γ Experimentally Separate TDHDC Hydrogen behaviour
Makarov determined for WM and HAZ in WM and HAZ
et al. 14Ch2N3MA γ-α by Makarov et al. [18] of multilayer joints
[16] WM, HAZ α, γ Experimentally Separate TDHDC Hydrogen behaviour
Slepcov and BM determined for WM, HAZ in WM and HAZ
et al. 14Ch2GMR by Makarov et al. [18] and BM

3.1.2 TDHDC curves for evaluating the influence
of phase transformations
Most of the available TDHDC curves that account for
the influence of undercooled austenite neglect the influ-
ence of various types, number, and temperatures of the
phase transformations occurring in welded joints and
ignore the changing phase content during phase trans-
formations, as in [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 16].
The enveloping curves for evaluating the phase trans-
formations’ influence completely coincide with the basic
TDHDC curve outside the phase transformation range
(Fig. 4). The phase transformation temperatures at the
enveloping curves cover the typical phase transformation
ranges in WM and HAZ of structural steels and are uni-
fied for the HAZ areas heated to different temperatures.
3.1.3 TDHDC curves for evaluating the influence
of state of final microstructure
In the range below the phase transformations many
authors use the relationships of Johnson and Hill or
Sykes for α-iron [5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14]. Such
simplifications may cause significant inaccuracies, since
24 HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS
Fig. 3. Set of TDHDC curves for evaluating
the influence of undercooled austenite.
HDC in this range varies in order of 10-3 cm2/s depend-
ing on the state of the final microstructure (see Fig. 1).
The TDHDC curves for evaluating the effect of the state
of final microstructure are plotted on the basis of upper
and lower enveloping curves of Coe’s scatterband for
ferritic steels, thus covering the whole range of influ-
ence of this factor (Fig. 5). Above the final temperatures
of phase transformations, they completely coincide with
the basic TDHDC.
3.1.4 TDHDC curves for evaluating the influence
of inhomogeneous microstructure distribution
The available TDHDC curves (see Table 2) ignore the
influence of this factor in different extents by using one
curve for all areas of the welded joint or separate curves
for WM and HAZ. The influence of an inhomogeneous
microstructure property distribution is investigated here
by using joint enveloping curves for the HAZ and BM
areas. The curves from the basic TDHDC curve for the
HAZ areas, heated up to 1,050°C and to 1,350°C, are
used correspondingly as upper and lower enveloping
TDHDC curve (Fig. 6).
3.2 Calculation of the thermal factor
The thermal factor (Σ D iΔti)100 is calculated on the basis
of the above plotted TDHDC curve and a digitally reg-
Fig. 5. Set of TDHDC curves for evaluating
the influence of the state of final microstructure.
Table 3. Welding and digitally recorded thermal cycle parameters.
Current Voltage Welding speed Heat input
A V mm/s kJ/mm
180 25 2.36 1.9
Fig. 4. Set of TDHDC curves for evaluating
the influence of phase transformations.
istered thermal cycle in the weld metal of the SIV 19-XT
cold cracking test (see Fig. 7). The welding parameters
and those of the recorded thermal cycle are shown in
Table 3. The time constant for digital recording of tem-
perature, equal to 0.043 s, is used as a value of Δti. The
values of Di are calculated for all the recorded temper-
ature values, using the basic TDHDC and the above
plotted WM TDHDC curves.
3.3 Modelling of hydrogen behaviour
in WM and HAZ
The researches are conducted using a specially devel-
oped software system [21] that solves a mathematical
hydrogen behaviour model [22] by the finite element
method. The software system provides solutions for the
non-stationary fields of hydrogen concentration in the
SIV 19-XT, implant, and Tekken cold cracking tests.
For the purpose of the present investigation, the software
system is solved for the SIV 19-XT test under the fol-
lowing conditions:
– Initial diffusible hydrogen concentration in weld metal
HDWM = 13.1 ml/100 g;
– Ambient temperature of 20°C and heat input that pro-
vides welding thermal cycle with Δt8/5 = 10 s in HAZ;
Fig. 6. Set of TDHDC curves for evaluating
the influence of inhomogeneous
microstructure distribution.
Max. temp. Cooling time from Cooling time
°C 800 to 500°C, s to 100°C, s
1,437 10.18 70.5
HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS 25

– in the area, located 0.5 to 2.5 mm ahead of the notch

tip, where extreme stresses and local peak hydrogen
concentrations are reached, and intensive local strain-
ing occurs preceding the crack nucleation and propa-
gation.
The thus specified critical area comprises nodes 166,
189, and 212 of the finite element mesh (hatched area
in Fig. 7). Node 189, which is placed at the centre of the
critical area, is selected to represent the hydrogen
behaviour in the present research.

4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Hydrogen behaviour in the weld metal

The influence of investigated diffusion controlling fac-
tors on the behaviour of hydrogen in WM centre is
shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, and is summarised in
Figs. 12, 13, and 14.
Fig. 7. Critical SIV 19-XT test area The WM hydrogen concentration during cooling to room
(nodes 212, 189 and 166) and area investigated temperature is controlled mainly by the level of alloying
in WM centre (average hydrogen concentration of the undercooled austenite (Fig. 8). When the influ-
in nodes 93, 156, 170, 171, 179 and 194). ence of this factor is ignored, the higher HDC values in
the austenitic region (upper enveloping TDHDC curve in
– The basic TDHDC curve and the above plotted sets Fig. 3) promote a faster hydrogen desorption from WM,
of TDCDH curves for evaluating the influence of diffu- resulting in lower concentrations. Exaggerating the influ-
sion controlling factors. ence of undercooled austenite (through the bottom
enveloping TDHDC curve in Fig. 3) leads to slower des-
The following parameters are investigated in order to
evaluate the influence of diffusion controlling factors on
hydrogen behaviour in welded joints:
– diffusible hydrogen concentration in WM centre, which
is calculated as an average concentration in nodes 93,
156, 170, 171, 179 and 194 from the finite elements
mesh (Fig. 7);
– residual hydrogen content in the WM centre at 100°C,
calculated as the sum of the average diffusible and
trapped hydrogen concentrations in the above men-
tioned nodes;
– diffusible hydrogen concentration in the critical HAZ
area, its maximal value, and the time to reach that value;
– a newly introduced parameter called “integral con- Fig. 8. Influence of undercooled austenite
centration”, which accounts for the dwelling of critical on hydrogen behaviour of in WM (Hd WM min,
HAZ area at elevated hydrogen concentrations. Hd WM max and Hd 23G2SAF – solutions
The integral concentration characterises the influence obtained correspondingly by lower and upper
of local hydrogen concentration on the probability of cold enveloping curves, and basic TDHDC curve).
crack propagation and on the magnitude of cracking in
the critical HAZ area. It is calculated by formula (1) for
a period of 48 hours, beginning at cooling of HAZ down
to 100°C:
48 h
Σ HDi Δti , ml.h / 100 g (1)
t 100°C

In this formula HDi is the local diffusible hydrogen con-

centration in the critical HAZ area and Δti is the dwell
time at that concentration.
The location of the critical SIV 19-XT test area is spec-
ified as follows:
– in the coarse grained HAZ, containing substantial
amount of brittle microconstituents and microstructural Fig. 9. Influence of phase transformations
stress risers; on hydrogen behaviour in WM.
26 HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS

9
H, cm3 /100g

Hd WM min
8
Hd WM max
7

6 Hd WM 23G2SAF

0
0,1 1 t 100 10 100 1000 t, mi n 10000

Fig. 10. Influence of microstructure state Fig. 11. Influence of inhomogeneous

on hydrogen behaviour in WM. microstructure property distribution in HAZ
on hydrogen behaviour in WM.

orption and higher hydrogen concentrations. Due to its
mechanism of influence, the undercooled austenite
mainly controls the thermal factor (Σ Di Δti)100 (see curves
6 and 7 in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13) and the remaining hydro-
gen content in WM at 100°C (Fig. 14).
The final microstructure state influences mainly the
hydrogen behaviour at room temperature by promoting
or retarding hydrogen desorption from WM (Fig. 11).
Therefore, it determines the dwelling time of WM at ele-
vated hydrogen concentrations. Its effect on the ther-
mal factor (curves 2 and 3 in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14) and
on the hydrogen content in WM at 100°C (Fig. 14) is
much smaller than the effect of undercooled austenite.
The phase transformations affect mainly the hydrogen
concentration during cooling to room temperature
(Fig. 9). Due to the temperature range of influence of
this factor, its effect on the thermal factor (curves 4 and
5 in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14) and on the hydrogen content
in WM at 100°C (Fig. 14) is comparable to the micro-
structure state effect. The inhomogeneous microstruc-
ture property distribution, which in the present research
concerns only the HAZ, has an insignificant effect on
the hydrogen behaviour in WM (Fig. 11).
The obtained results show that the alloying level of
undercooled austenite and state of final microstructure
are the main controlling factors respectively of the
hydrogen concentration in WM at 100°C and of the
dwelling time of WM at elevated hydrogen concentra-
tions. Therefore, the first factor should be considered
Fig. 13. Influence of diffusion controlling factors
on thermal factor values (Σ Di Δti).
Solutions with: 23G2SAF – basic TDHDC curve;
UA – undercooled austenite, PT – phase
transformations; MS – microstructure state;
ID – inhomogeneous distribution
of microstructure properties. D(T)min
and D(T)max – correspondingly lower
and upper enveloping curves; D(T)23G2SAF –
Basic TDHDC curve.

Fig. 12. Influence of diffusion controlling factors

on thermal factor values (Σ Di Δti), calculated
by TDHDC curves of: 1 – steel 23G2SAF (basic
TDHDC curve); 2 and 3 – lover and upper
enveloping curves of microstructure state;
4 and 5 – lower and upper enveloping phase
transformation curves; 6 and 7 – lower
and upper enveloping undercooled austenite Fig. 14. Influence of diffusion controlling factors
curves. Curve 8 – digitally recorded welding on residual hydrogen concentration in WM
thermal cycle. at 100°C. (See Fig. 13 for designations).
HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS 27

as having prevailing influence on the cold cracking ini-

tiation in HAZ and WM, and the second one as mainly
controlling the crack propagation and magnitude of
cracking in WM. However, the extents of their influences,
which are controlled by the phase transformation tem-
peratures and phase content, can not be sharply dis-
tinguished.

4.2 Hydrogen behaviour in the critical HAZ area

The influence of the investigated diffusion controlling
factors on the hydrogen behaviour in the critical HAZ Fig. 18. Influence of inhomogeneous
area is shown in Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18 and is sum- microstructure property distribution
marised in Figs. 19, 20, and 21. on hydrogen behaviour in HAZ.
By accelerating or retarding the hydrogen desorption
from WM and HAZ, the alloying level of undercooled

Fig. 19. Influence of diffusion controlling factors

on peak diffusible hydrogen concentration
Fig. 15. Influence of undercooled austenite values in critical HAZ area.
on hydrogen behaviour in HAZ (Hd 189 min,
Hd 189 max and Hd 23G2SAF – solutions obtained
correspondingly by lower and upper enveloping
curves, and basic TDHDC curve).

Fig. 20. Influence of diffusion controlling factors

on time-to-peak hydrogen concentration
in critical HAZ area.
Fig. 16. Influence of phase transformations
on hydrogen behaviour in HAZ.

Fig. 21. Influence of diffusion controlling factors

on integrated concentration in critical HAZ area
Fig. 17. Influence of final microstructure state (dwelling at elevated hydrogen concentrations).
on hydrogen behaviour in HAZ. See Fig. 13 for designations.
28 HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS
austenite acts as the main controlling factor of the peak
hydrogen concentration, attained in the HAZ after cool-
ing to room temperature (Figs. 15 and 19).
This factor also has a considerable effect on the time-
to-peak hydrogen concentration in HAZ (Fig. 20). By its
influence on the hydrogen concentration at room tem-
perature, the undercooled austenite controls the con-
centration gradient between WM and HAZ and conse-
quently, the rate of diffusion through HAZ, thus
accelerating or retarding the formation of peak hydrogen
concentrations. Although the alloying level of under-
cooled austenite is the main controlling factor of the
peak hydrogen concentration in HAZ, it has a smaller
influence over the dwelling of HAZ at elevated hydrogen
concentrations, due to its comparatively short effect time
(Fig. 21).
By accelerating or retarding the hydrogen diffusion in
WM and HAZ at room temperature (Fig. 17), the final
microstructure state acts as the main controlling factor
for the dwelling of HAZ at elevated hydrogen concen-
trations (Fig. 21) and for the time-to-peak concentration
(Fig. 20). It also has a considerable effect on the peak
hydrogen concentration value in HAZ (Fig. 19).
Phase transformations control the hydrogen behaviour
in the phase transformation range and affect the hydro-
gen concentration in HAZ at room temperature for a
comparatively short time (Figs. 16 and 19). This factor
influences mainly the time-to-peak hydrogen concen-
tration (Fig. 20) by the same mechanism as the alloy-
ing level of undercooled austenite. Its influence on the
dwelling at elevated concentrations is insignificant
(Fig. 21).
The inhomogeneous microstructure property distribution
controls mainly the hydrogen behaviour at room tem-
perature (Fig. 18). It generally affects the time-to-peak
hydrogen concentration in HAZ and its dwelling at ele-
vated concentrations (Figs. 20 and 21), acting by the
same mechanism as the final microstructure state. Its
influence on the peak hydrogen concentration value is
insignificant (Fig. 19).
The alloying level of undercooled austenite and the final
microstructure state are the main hydrogen behaviour
controlling factors in HAZ as well. By controlling the
peak hydrogen concentration value in HAZ, undercooled
austenite prevailingly influences the initiation of cold
cracks. By affecting mainly the time-to-peak hydrogen
concentration and the dwelling of HAZ at elevated hydro-
gen concentrations, the final microstructure state plays
an important role on the kinetics of the cold cracking
process and on the extent of cracking. However, since
both factors have interconnected effects on the above
mentioned parameters, their influence on the cold crack-
ing process in HAZ could not be clearly distinguished.
The conducted research has clearly shown that in ana-
lytical and numerical modelling of hydrogen diffusion in
welded joints, the diffusion controlling factors have wide
ranges of influence over the hydrogen behaviour para-
meters. Neglecting or exaggerating the level of that influ-
ence could result in quite incorrect modelling solutions.
Therefore, it is recommendable to use experimentally
obtained data for the same steel under the same weld-
ing conditions when plotting the TDHDC curve of a par-
ticular steel for a particular welding thermal cycle. The
experimental determination of the HDC values however,
is too much time and labour consuming, depending on
the type of experimental method and its precision, and
is not correctly applicable for the temperature range of
undercooled austenite [22, 25].
A reasonable solution to that problem could be the cre-
ation of a database with experimentally determined val-
ues of HDC for small groups of steels and weld metals
with similar alloying contents and transformation behav-
iours. Modelling of TDHDC could be considered as a
possible solution for the temperature range of under-
cooled austenite. As an initial step in this direction, a
modelling approach, taking into account the influence
of the alloying level of undercooled austenite, phase
transformation temperatures, and phase content, has
been proposed in [21, 22].
5 CONCLUSIONS
1 The alloying level of undercooled austenite is the main
factor controlling the hydrogen concentration in weld
metal at 100°C, the thermal factor (Σ Di Δti)100, and the
peak hydrogen concentration value in HAZ.
2 The final microstructure state is the main controlling
factor of the time-to-peak hydrogen concentration in HAZ
and of weld metal and HAZ dwelling at elevated hydro-
gen concentrations.
3 The phase transformations and inhomogeneous
microstructure property distribution have the same mech-
anisms of influence respectively as the undercooled
austenite and the final microstructure state and supple-
ment their effects on hydrogen behaviour parameters.
4 The diffusion controlling factors have wide ranges
of influence on the hydrogen behaviour parameters.
Neglecting or exaggerating their influence on the tem-
perature dependences of the hydrogen diffusion coeffi-
cient could result in unreliable modelling solutions for
the hydrogen behaviour during welding.
5 Creation of databases with general temperature
dependences of hydrogen diffusion coefficient for small
groups of steels and weld metals having similar alloy-
ing contents and transformation behaviours could be a
reasonable solution to the problem for correct account-
ing the influence of diffusion controlling factors.
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1. Sykes C. et al., JISI, June 1947, vol. 156, pp. 155-180.
2. Johnson E.W., M.L. Hill, Trans. Met. Soc. of AIME, 1960,
vol. 218, No. 12, pp. 1104-1112.
3. Coe F.R., Welding Steels Without Hydrogen Cracking,
TWI, London, 1973.
4. McParlan, A. Graville, Welding Journal, 1976, vol. 55,
No. 4, pp. 95-102.
HYDROGEN DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND MODELLING OF HYDROGEN BEHAVIOUR IN WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEELS
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