Multi-axial load analysis of thick-walled component welds made of 13CrMoV9-10

A 20 mm thick heat resistant 13CrMoV9-10 steel was welded using a multi-pass submerged arc tandem setup on a 3-D testing facility designed to prevent shrinkage both during the welding and the subsequent cooling to room temperature. The effects of variations in pre-heating and interpass temperatures on the local stresses were monitored by in situ measurement of reaction forces and bending moments during welding and the subsequent dehydrogenation heat treatment. The austenite to bainite transformation and its effects on the overall loads were monitored through the use of a high sampling rate. Increasing the pre-heating and interpass temperatures led to a rise in reaction forces and bending moments. The bending moments originated from the eccentric force transmission over the backing, with a concomitant risk of fracture, especially in the critical root zone. Although the pre-heating and interpass temperatures had a strong effect on the reaction forces, their effect on the bending moments upon cooling to room temperature was negligible.