Browsing by Author "Blackman, S. A."

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    Arc behaviour and metal transfer of the VP-GMAW process
    (Cranfield University, 2003) Harwig, D. D.; Blackman, S. A.
    This project evaluated the metal transfer behaviour of the variable polarity (VP) GMAW process. Analysis was performed using high speed video that was synchronised with high speed data acquisition. Melting rate measurements were found to be very dependent on current waveform, polarity, and droplet size, and metal transfer if it occurred, for each waveform period. The transient conditions of current waveform and metal transfer produced rapid changes in arc behaviour which influenced the melting at the electrode tip and growing droplet. The concentrated melting theory was developed to explain the significant increase in electrode extension burnoff and droplet growth rate that occurred at short EN time as a function of current, and during EP peak pulse when the pre-pulse droplet volume was small. The highest electrode extension burnoff and droplet growth rate occurred when the arc was permitted to climb over the solid electrode tip producing rapid concentrated melting. Likewise, large molten droplets were found to promote a negative electrode extension burnoff and a decreased droplet growth rate. The arc rooted on large droplets providing additional heating but limited electrode melting. The droplet burnoff rate (DBR) method was developed and found to yield good experimental measurements for the arc and resistive heating coefficients used in a 2nd order melting rate equation developed for a complex waveform process, like VP-GMAW. For the EN period, the EN time affected the melting rate as a function of EN current. The greater melting rate that occurred at low EN time was measured by the changes in the resistive heating coefficient. Concentrated arc melting of the electrode extension at low EN time caused the slope of the burnoff diagram to increase, which represented the resistive heating coefficient. The melting rate of the EP pulse was related to the pre-pulse droplet volume. Large pre-pulse droplets decreased the arc heating coefficient, which could be negative, which meant the electrode extension was increasing and the arc length was decreasing in that waveform period. VP-GMAW power supplies offered stable operation for welding sheet structures on both carbon steel and stainless steel. Higher travel speeds were required as the %EN of the waveform increased to produce acceptable constant deposit area fusion. Welding speeds were up to 300% higher with VP-GMAW compared to the GMAW-P process when welding lap joints on 1.8 mm thick material with a 1.8 mm gap. VP-GMAW heat input was up to 47% less than GMAW-P for the same melting rate.
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    Through-the-arc sensing for automated welding
    (Cranfield University, 2000-04) Joaquim, M.; Blackman, S. A.
    Abstract not available
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    Welding of X100 linepipe
    (Cranfield University, 2004-03) Hudson, Mark G.; Blackman, S. A.
    The benefits of high strength steels in terms of reduced material volume due to enhanced mechanical performance have been known for some time. Large diameter transmission linepipe steels of minimum 690MPa ('XIOO') yield strength have been developed throughout the previous decade, and have recently become commercially available. Before these steels are used in linepipe construction projects, fimdamental work regarding their ability to be field welded required undertaking. This thesis presents data arising from girth welding experiments involving a variety of X 100 linepipe steels, welding consurnables and welding processes. Target girth weld mechanical properties thought suitable for a strain-based MOO pipeline design were proposed at the outset of the research. Optimisation of pulsed gas metal arc welding waveforms for the single and tandem wire processes, alongside the establishment of the base material properties formed an early part of the research. An extensive programme of solid wire welding consumable evaluation was then undertaken for single, tandem and dual torch narrow gap welding processes. The majority of equipment and procedures used throughout the work were as close to current field practice as possible, to minimise the time required to transfer the technology to the field situation. Work then focussed on the optimised alloy levels and welding procedure requirements for the production of full girth welds, using a variety of industry pipeline welding standards and supplemental techniques to assess the joint integrity. It has been demonstrated that, subject to careful selection of welding consumable and fairly precise control of welding process variables and parameters, there are no major problems in obtaining weld metal strength levels of at least 120 MPa above the 690 MPa specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) of the parent pipe. This objective has been achieved in welds made usirig all three mechanised process variants examined. The desired target properties of strength and toughness were achieved with a variety of consumables and pipe materials of different composition. Tie-in and repair procedures were also developed during the course of the research, with particular attention focussed on the application of high strength rutile flux cored ýVires. These wires attained strength levels overmatching the pipe specified minimum yield strength (690MPa), but would not reach the guaranteed overmatch level of 81 OMPa. An examination of the thermocycles associated with four mechanised narrow gap welding techniques (single, tandem, dual and dual tandem) was undertaken. The experimental technique developed allowed the solidifying weld bead to be monitored, as well as the cumulative temperature cycles experienced by the underlying layers. Succesful determination of the cooling rates, times and transformation temperatures allowed a comparative evaluation of the four processes, using an optimum weld metal composition suitable for single wire welding of X100. This led to an understanding of the metallurgical history, and its consequent effect on the associated mechanical and microstructural properties. A similar series of experiments was undertaken to examine these effects using variations in preheat with a single wire process. In most cases considerable property variations were attained for'the same weld metal chemistry, joint geometry and arc energy, highlighting the sensitivity of the process and procedure in achieving the required properties. The high cooling rates determined from the thermocycle experiments explained the microstructural and mechanical properties attainable from lean alloying levels. A series of metal cored wires, based around the same alloy as for the thermocycle experiments, was consequently manufactured to examine small changes in weld metal chemistry. The individual wires involved changes in carbon, nickel, molybdenum and chromium to examine potential property variations arising from a highly controlled narrow gap welding procedure. The results again highlighted the sensitivity of the narrow gap welding technique in generating considerable property variation within the weld metal. Tolerance ranges for specific alloying additions to attain the proposed strength levels with a single and tandem wire process were derived from the data.