Evaluation of hybrid welding of pipelines and joint integrity

滑铁卢大学（UW）和TC能源公司（TCE）提议的合作项目“管道和接头完整性混合焊接评估”将促进包括管道在内的能源基础设施采用高性能混合电弧和激光焊接工艺，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格，可供TCE及其供应商用于其他大型基础设施。新的先进焊接技术的应用依赖于评估它们的性能，并将其与现有的基准（如目前的半自动弧焊）进行比较。利用这些新工艺将促进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，以预测在极端载荷条件下焊缝何时发生断裂。虽然焊缝的设计是为了达到最小的应力和变形，以避免在现场断裂，但新的高强度管线钢在焊接后可能会发生软化。这可以限制它们在使用中的变形，并且可以限制可以使用的钢的强度。通过对具有多种性能的接头进行预成形拉伸试验，可以确定避免过早断裂的机械性能，从而指导未来开发更坚固的焊接工艺和选择材料。

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.