Optimizing process parameters and a comparative study of post-weld heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 0.3%C-Cr-Mo-V steel

• Published in: International journal on interactive design and manufacturing 2025-01, Vol.19 (1), p.365-374
• Main Authors: Radhakrishnan, K., Hameed, Syed Shaul, Muralidharan, V., Moinuddin, Syed Quadir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloy steels; Alloys; CAE) and Design; Carbon; Carbon content; Chromium molybdenum vanadium steels; Comparative analysis; Comparative studies; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Content analysis; Cooling; Copper; Corrosion; Design of experiments; Ductility; Electronics and Microelectronics; Engineering; Engineering Design; Friction stir welding; Gas tungsten arc welding; Impact tests; Industrial Design; Instrumentation; Mechanical Engineering; Mechanical properties; Microscopy; Microstructure; Optimization; Original Article; Parameter modification; Performance evaluation; Post-weld heat treatment; Pressure vessels; Process parameters; Process variables; Sports cars; Stainless steel; Structural members; Tensile strength; Welding parameters; Wire; Yield stress
• ISSN: 1955-2513; 1955-2505
• DOI: 10.1007/s12008-024-01797-z

An alloy steel 15CDV6 finds more comprehensive applications in pressure vessels, aerospace structures, structural members, suspensions for sports cars components, etc., due to the low carbon content with good yield strength, toughness, and weldability. However, the 0.3%C-Cr-Mo-V (ESR MOD.15CDV6) steel is a modification of 15CDV6 and is a possible alternative for steels used in aerospace applications. The present paper focuses to study the influence of optimized process parameters and post weld heat treatments of 0.3%C-Cr- Mo-V steel on microstructure and mechanical properties. In this study, manual gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process is considered and design of experiments (DOE) is deployed wherein the optimized process parameters are obtained. Experiments are conducted on plates having combinations of process variables includes current, voltage, travel speed, number of passes (i.e., two, three and four passes), and root gap (i.e. 1 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm) respectively. Post experimentation, the weld samples were subjected to post weld heat treatment (PWHT) and cooling mediums (i.e., as welded, forced air and water) and correlated to microstructure and mechanical properties (i.e., Hardness, Tensile and Impact Test). On comparing the results, the process variables such as number of passes, root gap and cooling mediums play major significance on microstructural and mechanical properties. Further, the present study might provide an insight on thermal strategies of 0.3%C-Cr- Mo-V steel in additive manufacturing.