STRESS CORROSION CRACKING STUDIES OF WELDMENTS OF STRUCTURAL STEEL IN CHLORIDE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Investigations have been carried out to find out the influence of various welding parameters such as current, voltage and speed on the stress corrosion characteristics of low carbon steel parent metal, weld metal and heat affected zone in chloride environment. GMAW process was used to obtain full penetration welds in mild steel plates with compatible solid filler wire. SCC tests were conducted. inside a proof ring on CT-specimen, fabricated as per NACE specification. It was observed that, parent metal and weld metal remained immune to SCC whereas SCC occurred only in HAZ. While varying current and keeping other parameters constant, SCC was observed in HAZ at higher levels of current. Whereas, while keeping other parameters constant and varying voltage, SCC was observed in HAZ at both higher and lower levels of voltage. Welding speed was not found to have any influence on the SCC behaviour of either weld metal or HAZ.