About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 AWS Professional Program
|
| Symposium
|
2025 AWS Professional Program
|
| Presentation Title |
Hybrid Laser Arc Welding Process Optimization to Improve Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance |
| Author(s) |
Luke Kumler, Boian Alexandrov, Boyd Panton |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Luke Kumler |
| Abstract Scope |
Dry storage canisters (DSCs) used to store spent nuclear fuel are often made from austenitic stainless steel. These DSCs can be exposed to chloride-rich environments which creates the potential for stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Developing manufacturing methods that mitigate the risk of SCC is an important measure for the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel. The relatively high heat input produced by the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process creates high level residual tensile stresses (RTS) which would negatively impact the SCC susceptibility of weldments in austenitic stainless steel DSCs. Laser beam welding (LBW) can achieve deeper single pass penetration welds and lower heat inputs but is limited in its tolerance of joint fit up misalignments. Hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) combines the advantages of GMAW and LBW to create a welding process that can achieve full penetration welds at high speeds with increased tolerance for joint fit up. This study will seek to develop a HLAW process that improves the SCC resistance of austenitic stainless steel DSCs through minimizing heat input effects and RTS within the weld. Welding trials will be performed to show feasibility of the process and develop process windows for the most influential variables. A computational design of experiment (CDoE) framework will be used to develop and calibrate a model of the HLAW process. The HLAW FEA model will be used to assist with process parameter optimization aimed at RTS reduction. This presentation will demonstrate preliminary results regarding the development of the HLAW process and its influence on improving the SCC resistance in welds of austenitic stainless steel DSCs through RTS reduction. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |