Implementation of UT Hardness Tester For Titanium Fabrication Martin Kaffenbarger and

摘要

Grade 2 titanium piping is used extensively onboard LPD-17 class vessels for fire main and auxiliary seawater systems. Since March of 2000, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) in Avondale, Louisiana has successfully fabricated over 50,000 feet of Grade 2 titanium piping. In an effort to reduce the fabrication costs associated with titanium, The Navy Joining Center (NJC) operated by Edison Welding Institute (EWI) developed a portable hardness testing procedure to evaluate titanium welds. To date, the portable hardness testing procedure has been utilized in the areas of assessing titanium welds that have unacceptable weld color, routine welder performance re-qualifications tests, quality control on vendor supplied material, and evaluation for fit-for-service of damaged titanium pipe due to arc strikes and other incidents were sufficient heat was delivered to the titanium pipe.