Cooling Time (t8/5) Model for Submerged Arc Welded Pressure Vessel Steel Using Dimensional Analysis

Abstract

Most of the microstructural changes in weldment takes place during weld cooling from 800 ° C to 500 ° C (t8/5) specially in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). Weld strength and cracking tendency can also relate to t8/5. A generalized model using dimensional analysis has been proposed for estimation of the weld cooling time (t8/5) for variable plate thicknesses. The proposed model is based on rotatable central composite designed submerged arc welding (SAW) experiments. The model considers material properties, weld parameters, and environmental conditions for submerged arc welding. The model is validated with experimental data and cooling time observed by other researchers. The adequacy of the model was found to be 97% and able to predict cooling time for a plate thickness ranging from 8 to 41.5 mm thickness.