The production of American Petroleum Institute (API) class steels using the traditional controlled rolling route rather than the process involving accelerated cooling necessitates a careful adjustment of steel composition associated with the optimization of the rolling schedule for the deformation and phase transformation characteristics of these modified alloys. The current work presents a study of two, NbCr and NbCrMo, steel systems. The microstructure obtained is correlated not only with the resulting mechanical properties, but also with the weldability and resistance to damage in the aggressive environments to which the materials are exposed. The evaluation of the steels was undertaken at two stages along the production route, sampling the material as plate and as tubular product, according to the API 5L 2000 standard. Tensile testing, Charpy-V impact testing, and hardness measurements were used to determine the mechanical properties, and microstructural characterization was performed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that it was possible to obtain good impact properties, for both steels, in plate and tube formats. The Charpy-V impact energy, measured at Ϫ20 °C from 100 to 250 J corresponds to a toughness level above that required by the API 5L 2000 standard, which specifies 68 to 101 J at 0 °C. The yield strength (YS) to ultimate tensile strength (UTS) ratio was determined to be 0.8, the API standard establishing a maximum limit of 0.93. Both of the alloys investigated exhibited a bainitic microstructure and were successfully processed to fabricate tubular products by the "UOE" (bending in "U", closing in "O," and expanding "E") route. With regard to weldability, the two experimental steels exhibited a heat-affected zone (HAZ) for which toughness levels (using the temperature associated with a 100 J impact energy as a base for comparison) were higher than those for both the base metal (BM) and the weld metal (WM) itself. In order to perform the evaluation of the behavior of the steels in an aggressive environment, more specifically their resistance to the deleterious effects of H 2 S, slow strain rate tests (SSRTs) were carried out, immersing the samples in a sodium thiosulfate solution during the tests. Though no secondary cracking was observed in the test samples, the ductility levels measured were lower than those for the same materials tested in air. Constant load tests were also conducted according to the standard NACE conditions. Despite the more aggressive nature of the test solution in these cases, no samples of either steel suffered failure.

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The present work is part of a wide research program which the main goal is the development of welding procedures for chain and accessories for application in mooring systems of oil platforms. In the specific case of the work in subject, the development of different covered electrodes formulations is discussed for obtaining high mechanical strength and impact toughness, of the order of 860 MPa and 50 joules at –20°C, respectively. Welded joints using the developed electrodes were prepared for evaluation of the mechanical properties, using preheat of 200°C, direct current, flat position and heat input of 1.5 kJ/mm. After welding, tensile, impact Charpy-V and hardness tests were performed in specimens removed integrally from the weld metal, both in as welded and heat treated conditions. The post weld heat treatment (PWHT) was conducted at 600°C for 1, 2 and 3 hours. The results shows that the obtained weld metals have mechanical properties higher than the minimum required for the welding of a IACS W22 R4 Grade steel, and particularly good impact properties, which indicates that the correct control of the chemical composition, particularly, of Mn-Ni balance, makes possible to achieve an adequate strength/toughness relationship for high strength steel weld metals, where the PWH is mandatory. In addition, it was verified that the increase in the time of PWHT did not promote substantial impairment on mechanical properties.

This paper investigates the nonlinear geometric effect on the mechanical behavior of shape memory alloy (SMA) helical springs. First, the SMA wires are characterized, and then the design and fabrication of SMA helical springs are discussed. Experimental tensile tests are carried out to show the nonlinear geometric influence. Results show a coupling between constitutive and geometric nonlinearities that defines the spring stiffness. Two springs with different geometries are built from SMA wires to define springs with both weak and strong nonlinear geometric influence. Numerical analyses are developed, using the finite element method to confirm the general conclusions shown in our experimental observations.