INTERPRETIVE REPORT ON WELDABILITY TESTS FOR HYDROGEN CRACKING OF HIGHER STRENGTH STEELS AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR STANDARDIZATION (To Purchase Call 1-800-854-7179 USA/Canada or 303-397-7956 Worldwide)
Tests for hydrogen cracking in welding have been used for many years in research and steel development and in recent years are playing an increasing role in material procurement. A multitude of different tests have been proposed@ many being developed for a specific research program and not being used again. Very few tests have gained sufficiently broad acceptance to be standardized@ particularly in North America@ although the AWS B4 committee is currently developing standards for a limited number of tests that have previously been standardized elsewhere. Where tests are being used by several laboratories@ lack of standardization frustrates the comparison of results among laboratories and is a serious limitation when the test is used for procurement purposes. The purpose of this Bulletin is to provide the technical basis for standardization activities. It provides insight into the practical aspects of weldability testing including capabilities@ reproducibility@ experience@ flexibility@ influence of variables@ and other issues bearing on the utility of the test including suitability for standardization. It also provides specific recommendations for activities which might be undertaken by WRC and others in order for progress to be made in this field. Contents include discussions of hardenability G-BOP test@ WIC test@ bend test and evaluation procedures. Publication of this document WRC Bulletin No. 400 was sponsored by the Weldability Committee of the Welding Research Council