Phase transformations in the heat-affected zone of microalloyed steels

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The long-term objective of this program is to develop the physical metallurgy for next generation steel welds for fossil-fuel and renewable energy. The short-term research objectives are to develop a theory for non-equilibrium phase transformations in X70 pipeline steel thermally cycled to lower or upper critical temperatures, and to optimize the low-temperature toughness by controlling the multipass weld heat-affected zone microstructure.   Welding generates the heat- affected zone, the most critical of which is the coarse- grained zone, which has long been identified as the location for "local brittle zone" for poor toughness. More recently the inter-critical heat -affected zone, where the peak temperature during welding falls between the lower (Ac1) and upper (Ac3) critical temperatures for austenite formation, has been correlated with the "soft zone" for Type IV damage in welded boiler tubes. The cooling rate effect has been well understood through the CCT diagrams. However, a quantitative prediction of phase transformations is not available for the effects of weld heating rates, peak temperature, and various starting microstructure. The following research themes are proposed: Theme 1: Thermal History of Multipass Welding  Conduct welding tests, and characterize the thermal cycles typical for the intercritical heat-affected zone for arc welding. Numerical thermal simulations will be conducted to understand the temperature fields as influenced by the weld geometry and heat input. Theme 2: Non-Conventional CCT Diagrams  Reproduce the thermal cycles on X70 steel using the Gleeble and a quench dilatometer. Simulate and measure the effects of pre-existing microstructure, heating/cooling rates, austenite grain sizes, dissolution of carbides, and homogenization on subsequent on-cooling transformations. Theme 3: A Model for Multipass Welds and Additive Manufacturing By characterizing the resulting microstructure of the Gleeble samples, the appearance of bainite peak if particles have dissolved, or the appearance of allotriomorphic ferrite peak if particles have not completely dissolved, we will develop a microstructural evolution model for optimizing the impact toughness by quantifying the peak temperatures on austenite formation and carbonitride dissolution (on--heating), and ferritic- type transformations (on--cooling). The scientific findings will contribute to materials engineering and physical metallurgy by providing new knowledge on microstructure--processing--properties relationship for advanced welding of microalloyed steels. For the first time, the mechanism for the complicated heated-affected zone microstructure of multipass welds will be studied systematically and quantitatively. This research program also serves as an ideal platform to train numerous high -quality graduate students in physical metallurgy to advance their academic or career prospects.