TPT May 2009

T echnology U pdate

Increasing weld penetration depth of GTAW and TIG

EWI is a leading engineering and tech- nology organization in North America dedicated to the research and development of materials joining and welding. The com- pany provides materials joining assistance, contract research, consulting services, training, and further support to companies across a broad range of industries. The company has developed patented compounds called EWI FastTIG™ which increases the weld penetration depth of gas tungsten arc welds (GTAW or TIG) by as much as 300 per cent. This method

also produces consistent weld penetration regardless of heat-to-heat variations in the base metal composition. In most applications, EWI FastTIG reduced welding time by as much as 50 per cent. For example, a typical application with stainless steel and nickel alloys that are welded manually in five passes require only one or two passes using EWI FastTIG. Welding times for these applications can be reduced from approximately 23 minutes for the manual procedure to 3 minutes for a single-pass GTAW procedure using the compound.

 An EWI FastTIG compound kit

EWI FastTIG has been developed for corresponding base materials such as SS-7 for stainless steels (eg types 304, 316, 347, 409, 410), NI-139 for nickel-based alloys (eg alloys 600, 625, 690, 718, 800), and CS-325 for carbon and low-alloy steels (eg A36, SA-178C, 2 ¼ Cr-1Mo, X80). EWI – USA Fax : +1 614 688 5001 Email : skhurana@ewi.org Website : www.ewi.org In more detail, the objective has been to enable input of required parameters, such as root opening, shrinkage, bevel, and pro- file type, into Tekla Structures. The new NC application creates the required control data file in XML format from these parameters, and HGG calculation module generates contour information from this file to be used as input when visualizing weld preparations in the Tekla Structures 3D environment. The NC application will be distributed as part of the standard installation of Tekla Structures 15 Steel Detailing configuration. Tekla Corporation Oy – Finland Fax : +358 30 661 1500 Email : ig@hgg.nl Website : www.tekla.com

 Weld macrographs, the left made without EWI FastTIG TM and the right made with EWI FastTIG

The mechanical properties, weldability, corrosion resis- tance, and safe use of welds made with EWI FastTIG has been extensively tested and proven safe for use in a wide range of applications.

Standardized software solution for tubular profiles

Tekla and HGG have cooperated on developing a standardized software solution for the steel tube industry. As a result, Tekla Structures 15 has been launched to help produce the required control data for NC (numerically controlled) machinery in standard open XML format. Tekla Structures is able to provide for all 3D tubular structures from design and detailing to automatic fabrication. Up until now, data transfer with tubular sections had been possible but required several manual operations and editing of data to complete the process. By completing the 3D building information model (BIM) with a wide range of tubular connections it is now possible to export infor- mation to tube profiling machines by using open XML as the new industry standard. Tekla and HGG integrated a solution for modelling and manufacture of tubular steel structures. Features include a full range of components in Tekla Structures to cover the needs for modelling tubular structures. The new component types are offshore saddle (AWS) and offshore chamfer, saddle and hole, mitre and hole, chamfer and slotted hole. There is an integrated export of complete manufacturing information from the model

directly to 3D tube profiling production. The software uses an XML format-based industry standard for transferring data that is open to any tube profiling machine company or design software supplier. In addition, there is a visualization module for 3D representations of cutting shapes on tubular structures. All information about tubular sections can be managed and kept up-to-date in the structural building information model so that all data for fabrication can be extracted from one source. This does not require any manual input or editing anymore. Even complex tubular connections can be handled automatically.

 Screenshots of the new standardized Tekla Structures 15 software

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M ay 2009

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