FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF WELD HEAT AFFECTED ZONES (HAZs) IN STEELS USED IN CONSTRUCTING OFFSHORE PLATFORMS

This paper describes the metallurgy of weld heat affected zones (HAZs) in carbon-manganese microalloyed steels and methods by which their resistance to fracture initiation can be evaluated. The significance of brittle regions within the HAZ are discussed primarily with regard to ensuring structural integrity by avoiding fracture initiation.