Characterization of Hot Cracking in Multi-Pass Weld Metal of High Manganese Austenitic Steel

In multi-pass welding of high manganese austenitic steel, weld metal is solidified in austenite single phase and hot cracking may occur depending on residual stress. In order to identify the cracking morphology, a fracture surface of the cracking of weld metal in multi-pass welding test was observed. The fracture surface indicated a dendritic morphology and a bunching pattern; therefore, it is considered that the crack in the multi-pass weld metal is caused by residual liquid film or remelting liquid film. Varestraint test was carried out in order to clarify the characterization of the crack, and then the fracture surface of cracks obtained by the test was observed. Transverse-type and longitudinal Varestraint test were used for getting typical fracture surfaces of solidification cracking in weld metal, and liquation cracking in reheat weld metal and heat affected zone of base metal, respectively. Comparing the fracture surfaces of cracks of Varestraint test and crack in practice, the fracture surface of the solidification cracking was most similar to the crack in multi-pass weld metal in this study. Thus, it is considered from comparing the fracture surfaces that solidification cracking might mainly occur in the multi-pass welding of the high manganese steel.