An experimental investigation on the explosive plugging of similar and dissimilar steel tubes

Abstract

This study intends to accomplish explosive plugging by explosively cladding austenitic (UNS G30400) and low-carbon steel (UNS G10800) end-reamed rods with a low-carbon steel tube. The similar and dissimilar tube interface microstructures show a straight interface devoid of any reaction compounds. Deformation twins, resulting from rapid impacts, are witnessed. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, with varying particle sizes, is used to quantitatively determine the pressure and temperature generated during explosive plugging. The pressure generated at the interface exceeds the plastic limit of the mating alloys, while the temperature developed is lower than the melting point of both alloys. With respect to Vickers hardness, the highest value was witnessed at the interface of the dissimilar clad. The similar or dissimilar explosive plugs show no signs of leakage when connected to a heat exchanger.

Keywords:

• Explosive plugging
• steel tubes
• end- reamed-rods
• microstructure
• hardness

Acknowledgment

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.