Projektinitiativ #29: A methodology to write safer WPS for structural steels ( 3 kommentarer)

A proper Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) for High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steels must be as lean and flexible as possible, yet keeping safe the expected properties of the joint. The costs of using non-optimized WPS in structural constructions lays on wider uncertainties (financial and technical risks), waste of energy (including CO2 emission) and lack of commercial allurements and/or competitiveness.

Lars-Erik Stridh presents the initiative during the 2017 conference

The proposal is to mature, implement and assess an under development methodology. The objective is to provide to building and industrial fabricators higher likelihood of reaching proper WPS, using a simple and relatively inexpensive approach (if applied in medium to high scale) dedicated to different HSLA steels. This approach is user-friendly at factory-floor level, since it is not based on predictive equations and the end-user (welding engineering, welding designer, etc.) would feel more confident for being working with “touchable” i nformation. It would be a commercial competitive differential for those using it.

The goal of the feasibility study is to assess the feasibility of the proposal by applying the methodology to a case study and demonstrate the advantages of using this approach for steel makers, suppliers and structural steelwork manufacturers.

Current TRL = 3 accomplished
Target TRL after the feasibility study = 5

Namn Americo Scotti
Organisation University West

Kommentar: #1

This project is targeting one important issue in modern welding production, and the enhanced use of HSLA steels, namely the development of a proper, user-friendly and robust WPS-tool when welding these steels. A future tool could consider both economical as well as productivity matters, and thus enhance the use of HSLA steels. The project should be of great interest to all companies active on international highly competitive markets.

Namn Nils Stenbacka
Organisation Stenbacka Consulting, www.stenbacka-consulting.se

Kommentar #2

One of our long-term goals is to increase the amount of high strength steel used in the construction industry then we need to decrease costs for welding including WPS:s.
The relatively new, mandatory, standard EN 1090-2 puts extra pressure on welding company’s in our industry since the standard states that “Welding shall be carried out with qualified procedures using a welding procedure specification (WPS)”

Namn Björn Åstedt
Organisation SBI - Stålbyggnadsinstitutet

Kommentar #3

To facilitate the companies ability to fulfill the standards requirements is important, this project aims in the right direction by making the uncertainty level as low as possible and therefore using the least amount of material and/or energy. This is also done while sustaining a correct amount of room for fluctuations in material properties and other variables.

Namn Peter Norman
Organisation Svetskommissionen