Evaluation of hybrid welding of pipelines and joint integrity

拟议的合作项目“管道混合焊接和接头完整性评估”涉及滑铁卢大学（UW）和TC Energy Corp.（TCE），将促进采用高性能混合电弧和激光焊接工艺用于能源基础设施，包括管道，并帮助确定避免焊接断裂的材料特性。所产生的知识将提供焊接性能数据和规范，可供TCE及其供应商与其他大型基础设施使用。新的先进焊接技术的应用依赖于评估其性能，并将其与现有的基准进行比较，例如当前的半自动弧焊。利用这些新工艺将提高加拿大焊接公司的竞争力，并加强先进制造业的地位。 在评估接头力学性能的同时，该项目还将重点开发更可靠的标准，用于预测极端载荷条件下焊接处何时发生断裂。尽管焊缝设计为达到最小应力和变形以避免现场断裂，但较新的高强度管线钢在焊接后可能会发生软化。这会限制它们在使用中的变形，并且会限制可以使用的钢的强度。通过对具有各种性能的接头进行拉伸试验，将确定避免过早断裂的机械性能，从而指导未来更稳健的焊接工艺和材料选择的开发。

The proposed collaborative project, "Evaluation of hybrid welding of pipelines and joint integrity" involving the University of Waterloo (UW), and TC Energy Corp. (TCE) will promote the adoption of high performance hybrid arc and laser welding processes for energy infrastructure including pipelines, and help to identify material properties that avoid fracture in welds. The knowledge generated will provide welding performance data and specifications that can be used by TCE and their suppliers involved with other large infrastructure. The application of new advanced welding technology relies on evaluating their performance and comparing this to existing benchmarks such as current semi-automatic arc welding. Utilizing these new processes will promote the competitiveness of welding companies within Canada, and strengthen the status of advanced manufacturing. While evaluating joint mechanical properties, the project will also focus on developing more reliable criteria for predicting when fracture occurs at a weld under extreme loading conditions. Although welds are designed to reach a minimum stress and deformation to avoid fracture in the field, newer high strength linepipe steels may undergo softening after welding. This can limit their deformation in service, and can limit the strength of steels that can be used. By preforming tensile testing of joints with a wide range of properties, the mechanical properties that avoid premature fracture will be determined, and thus guide the development of more robust welding procedures and selection of materials in the future.