Evaluation of susceptibility of hydrogen-induced cracking in micro-alloyed armour steel welds using a geometry-modified implant test

Abstract

Susceptibility to hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) was evaluated in steel welds for quenched and tempered armouring steel of 4.5 mm thickness. The welds were produced using the shielded metal arc welding process with low heat support and AWS E11018M 2.4 mm consumable. The susceptibility to HIC was evaluated by means of an implant test with modified geometry in welded joints with and without preheating being applied, using consumables in ideal stock conditions and exposed to the atmosphere. It was found that the consumable stock conditions were more relevant than preheating in regard to susceptibility to HIC.

Keywords:

• ballistic armouring; hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC); implant test

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Columbian Institute for the Encouragement of Sciences, Francisco José de Caldas, COLCIENCIAS, the National University of Columbia UNALMED, and COTECMAR for financing the research under project no. 1111587816-1 RTC-512-2003 and especially the Welding Research Group (Welding Group) of the National University of Columbia–Medellín Campus, where all the tests and analyses took place.