MANUFACTURING AND FABRICATION OF THERMOMECHANICALLY ROLLED HEAVY PLATES

The development of heavy plates for constructional steelwork, shipbuil ding and line pipes is characterized by a reduction of the carbon equi valent values. At the same time the strength and toughness properties are improved. Significant progress has been made by application of mod ern TM-rolling processes including accelerated cooling. Process contro l has been optimized to produce a homogeneity comparable to normalized plates. Strength and hardness profiles demonstrate the actual homogen eity. The properties after cold forming and strain aging have been eva luated. The weldability, in particular welding without preheating, is shown as a function of the H-2-content of the weld metal. Flame straig htening of TM-rolled plates is possible and is demonstrated for differ ent types of flame straightening procedures.