Thermal cycle simulation of welding process in low carbon steel

This paper is a contribution to the study of weldability of low carbon steel. It presents the microstructures obtained after thermal cycle simulation of welding by rapid heating and cooling treatments in a specific simulation equipment. Optical microscopy and microhardness measurements are used as characterization techniques. We have found that the obtained microstructures correspond exactly to those observed in real welded joint realized by arc welding.

► Investigation of the heat affected zone HAZ of real welded joints is not easy in metallic materials. This zone is very narrow.
► Thermal cycle simulation of welding is the appropriate technique to solve this problem.
► Rapid heating and cooling treatments in a specific simulation equipment has been applied on in low carbon steel. Globally, the results obtained by this technique are similar to these obtained in real welded low carbon steel.