Abstract This work investigates the performance of high strength cast steel welded joints to confirm their feasibility for application in mooring components. Three welded joints, with ultimate tensile strength in the range of 700 to 900 MPa, were obtained by the shielded metal arc welding process, the most applied in repair operation. After welding, a post welding heat treatment was performed to relieve the residual stresses. The results obtained in tension, impact Charpy-V, and hardness tests, at different positions of the heat affected zone were compared with equivalent welded joints performed with rolled steels currently applied in mooring chain links. These results showed that cast steels can obtain results equivalent to the rolled steels. Furthermore, the composition of cast steels for more stringent requirements (UTS > 860 MPa) is adjusted with higher nickel contents, while rolled and forged steels show increased C, Cr, and Mo contents. As a consequence, a refined microstructure with excellent impact toughness was obtained. Thus, these steels present a high potential to be used in this application contributing to reduce manufacturing costs.

Resumo Os torpedos de ancoragem são estruturas tubulares de aço carbono soldadas, e que tem sua ligação com as linhas de ancoragem que impedem o movimento das plataformas através de olhais de carregamento que são soldados nos tubos de construção. Como estes olhais apresentam geometria complexa, é importante a utilização de peças fundidas para a fabricação destes componentes, de forma a possibilitar o atendimento da demanda do mercado. Como a literatura técnica sobre este tipo de união soldada é ainda limitada, o presente trabalho estuda o comportamento de juntas soldadas de um aço fundido de alta resistência para utilização em olhais de torpedos de ancoragem de plataformas offshore. Para tanto, foram produzidas juntas soldadas com chanfro em K utilizando um aço de classificação ASTM A 148 Gr. 105-85 com resistência mecânica da ordem de 700 MPa, pelo processo eletrodo revestido, na posição plana, com preaquecimento de 200 °C e energia de soldagem média de 1,5 kJ/mm. Após a soldagem, foi realizado tratamento térmico pós-soldagem (TTPS) consistindo de aquecimento a 620 °C por 1 hora com resfriamento ao ar. As propriedades foram avaliadas por ensaios de tração, dureza, impacto Charpy-V e metalográficos por microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura com utilização da técnica de EBSD (eléctron backscatering difraction), tanto na condição de como soldado quanto após TTPS. Os resultados revelaram que, embora as propriedades mecânicas obtidas na junta soldada atendam os requisitos para a aplicação em todas as condições de análise, recomenda-se a execução do TTPS para alívio das tensões residuais e promover um revenimento da martensita de alta dureza do último passe de soldagem. Adicionalmente, verificou-se ser possível obter propriedades similares as de juntas soldadas de aços laminados usualmente utilizados em componentes de ancoragem.

Abstract Torpedo anchor piles are tubular carbon steel welded structures that are connected to the mooring lines, which prevent the oil platform from moving, through padeyes welded to the structural pipes. Due to the complex geometry of these padeyes, cast pieces are an important option in the manufacturing of these items, in order to meet market demand. Considering the limited availability of information about such type of welded junction in the technical literature, the present work studies the behavior of welded joints of a high strength cast steel used on offshore platforms torpedo anchor padeyes. Thus, K-type joints were used for the welding of an ASTM A 148 Gr. 105-85 steel with an ultimate tensile strength of about 700 MPa, by using shielded metal arc welding process, in flat position, with a preheating of 200 °C and an average welding energy of 1.5 kJ/mm. After welding, a post weld heat treatment (PWHT) was applied, at 620 °C for 1 hour, followed by air cooling. The properties were evaluated through tensile, hardness and Charpy-V impact tests, as well as metallographic examination by optical and scanning electron microscopy with the use of EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) technique, in both as welded and after PWHT conditions. The results shown that, although the mechanical properties obtained for the welded joint achieved the requirements for the application in all analyzed conditions, the execution of PWHT is recommended for the relief of residual stresses and promotion of a tempering of the high hardness martensite of the last welding pass. Additionally, it was verified that it is possible to obtain properties that are similar to those of welded joints of rolled steels, which are usually used on mooring components.

Resumo Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar um estudo das propriedades mecânicas e microestruturais de juntas soldadas de aço carbono obtidas pelo processo a arco submerso automatizado com elevada energia de soldagem, visando o aumento de produtividade na fabricação de tubulações para equipamentos de ancoragem. Foram soldadas juntas de aço ASTM A-572 Gr.50 com 25mm de espessura pelo processo a arco submerso em passe único, com energia de soldagem variando de 7,8 até 14,0 kJ/mm. As juntas foram avaliadas através de ensaios de impacto Charpy-V realizados à temperatura de 0°C, microdureza Vickers com carga de 1 kgf. e metalográficos em corpos-de-prova retirados do metal de solda e zona termicamente afetada. Os resultados mostraram que as juntas soldadas apresentaram tenacidade ao impacto superior aos mínimos requeridos para a utilização na soldagem de aços C-Mn baixa liga com requisitos de impacto de 34 Joules à 0°C. Foi observado um aumento significativo da produtividade, sem prejuízo das propriedades mecânicas, permitindo a fabricação de tubulações para equipamentos de petróleo com redução significativa do tempo envolvido na fabricação.

Abstract The objective of the current work is to present a study of the mechanical and microstructural properties of welded joints of carbon steel obtained from automatic submerged arc welding process with high welding energy, in order to improve productivity on the fabrication of pipes for mooring equipment. Joints of 25mm-thick ASTM A-572 Gr.50 steel were welded by a single pass of submerged arc welding process, with heat input varying from 7.8 to 14.0kJ/mm. The welded joints were evaluated through Charpy-V impact test performed at 0°C temperature, hardness test with 1 kgf load and metallographic examination, performed on samples removed from weld metal and heat affected zone (HAZ). The results showed that the welded joints presented impact toughness higher than the minimum requirements for the welding of low-alloy C-Mn steel with impact toughness requirement of 34 Joules at 0°C. A significant increase on productivity was observed, without prejudice to the mechanical properties, allowing the fabrication of pipes for oil equipment with significant reduction of production time.