Submerged Arc Welding - A Test for Centreline Cracking

A newly developed test method for centreline cracking or solidification cracking has been evaluated by adding nickel as cold wire to the weld metal. Welding was performed by using synergic cold wire submerged arc welding with various arc wire diameters to achieve different nickel contents in the weld metal. Welding was done as partial penetration single bevel groove joints in the PB position. This investigation showed that the test method picks up the sensitivity to centreline or solidification cracking. The amount of cracking increased as the nickel content in the weld metal increased.