Ratcheting Behavior of Weld Joints Under Uniaxial Cyclic Loading Using Miniature Specimen

Abstract

Because of the size limitation of weld joints in different regions, the traditional standard bar specimen is not suitable to investigate the mechanical properties of weld joints. In this study, miniature specimens were extracted from specific regions (base metal, weld metal, and three heat-affected zones) of API X80 and X70 weld joints. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted to obtain the mechanical properties of different regions, and then uniaxial ratcheting tests were conducted to investigate the ratcheting behaviors of the different regions under the same peak and nominal stresses. Under both the tensile tests and ratcheting tests, the weld joints exhibit heterogeneous results, such as different mechanical properties and ratcheting behaviors, which were region dependent. Furthermore, the yield strength and yield-to-tensile strength ratio contribute differently to the ratcheting response.

Keywords

Ratcheting / Weld joints / Heat-affected zone / Miniature specimen / Heterogeneity

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