Method and Criteria to Evaluate Reheat Cracking Susceptibility

Due to a lack of facile methods for evaluating the reheat cracking susceptibility of the coarse grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ), a simple notched C-ring reheat cracking test method and evaluation criteria were proposed. Accordingly, a suitable C-ring sampling method and heat treatment procedure were established. The C-ring specimens were taken from thick plate joints welded under five different heat inputs and testing was carried out. Reheat cracks were observed and identified under different stress loadings. Subsequently, related with the evaluation criteria of the Gleeble® test, the evaluation criteria based on notched C-ring tests were developed. This method can reflect both the microstructure and restraint stress of actual welded joints, and the stress relaxation during heat treatment. Moreover, the experimental operation is simple and repeatable. It is expected that an evaluation standard for reheat cracking sensitivity in CGHAZ will be established.