Section 8 Repairs to forged or cast steel structures
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Guidance Information - Naval Survey Guidance for Steel Ships, January 2001 - Chapter 15 Repairs - Section 8 Repairs to forged or cast steel structures

Section 8 Repairs to forged or cast steel structures

8.1 General

8.1.1 The following notes are intended for the general guidance of the Surveyors when it is proposed to carry out any form of weld repair to forged or cast steel components. The notes do not apply to the weld cladding of the rudder stocks or pintles in way of the bearings as an alternative to the fitting of shrunk-on liners or rotating machinery.

  1. Repairs, except those of an emergency nature, should only be attempted when access to the defective area is such as to provide adequate access for welding and inspection.

  2. The welders employed for the repairs are to be experienced and qualified to carry out this type of work. Whenever possible, the component should be removed from the ship and the repairs carried out in a properly equipped workshop under controlled conditions.

  3. Complete removal of all defective material is essential for a successful repair. However, the material removed should be the minimum consistent with this and the excavation should be shaped so as to allow good access for welding. The complete removal of all defective material is to be verified by magnetic particle examination before welding is commenced.

  4. The chemical composition should be established by reference to the appropriate certificate and the reported analysis compared with the limits given in the Rules for Materials. If the quoted composition is not within these limits, special consideration must be given to the welding procedure.

  5. Where certificates are not available, the chemical composition should be determined by the analysis of representative drillings. In assessing these results, allowance should be made for heterogeneous effects, and provided the carbon content does not exceed 0,26 per cent, special consideration of the welding procedure is not necessary.

  6. Welding consumables should be of an approved low hydrogen type depositing weld metal with mechanical properties similar to that of the forging or casting. The use of grade 3H or 3YH consumables is recommended.

  7. Due to the relatively large mass and the consequent chilling effect, it is recommended that in all cases an adequate area around the repair should be pre-heated to about 100°C. This pre-heat should be maintained until the repair is completed. Pre-heating temperature in excess of 100°C may be required.Due to the relatively large mass and the consequent chilling effect, it is recommended that in all cases an adequate area around the repair should be pre-heated to about 100°C. This pre-heat should be maintained until the repair is completed. Pre-heating temperature in excess of 100°C may be required.

  8. As far as is practicable, all welding should be done in the downhand position. Manual or automatic processes may be used as appropriate.

  9. The surplus weld metal should be removed by machining or grinding and the surface of the repair area smoothed to a satisfactory profile. The area should then be checked for freedom from cracks and other defects by magnetic particle examination. Where extensive repairs have been carried out, ultrasonic examination may also be requested at the discretion of the Surveyors.

  10. A stress-relieving treatment is to be carried out after completion of the repairs. A suitable temperature range is 600 to 650°C with a soaking period of one hour per 25 mm thickness of the repaired section.

  11. Rudder stocks should be treated in a furnace properly equipped with means for temperature measurement and control. In general, the furnace should be large enough to take the entire rudder stock. Post-weld heat treatment may be localised.

  12. Sternframes should be stress-relieved by heat treatment preferably using electric heating elements, and cooling should be retarded by a thermal blanket.

  13. After heat treatment and final machining or grinding has been completed, the repaired area should be re-examined by a magnetic particle method.

  14. Where the repairs have been carried out satisfactorily in compliance with the above, they should be recorded in the memoranda. If repairs are considered to be of a temporary nature, a Condition of Class should be recommended.

  15. When reinforcement of sternframes is necessary, care should be taken to maintain continuity with the ends of the reinforcement well-tapered to obviate hard spots.


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