Orenburg state university

Grant for fundamental research on welding

OSU Aerospace Institute post-graduate Artyom Atamashkin is a winner of the youth contest “Aspiranty” sponsored by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and aimed at funding best projects of young scientists.

The young scientist researches how to rationalize the production of geological equipment, particularly — drill pipes. Nowadays, pieces of medium-carbon steel pipes connect with each other through rotational friction welding, which means that metal pieces are not melted, but joined together in solid phase. Currently this way of connecting is estimated as the most up-to-date, high-capacity, innovative, cost-effective and safe. Nevertheless, a welded seam usually has a gradient structure and internal stress that often cause equipment destruction. Besides, drill pipe wall thickness in weld junction should be equal to the wall thickness of the pipe itself and this makes the design of an equal in strength construction difficult.

"We started a complex research of joint destruction mechanism under the effect of cyclic loading while in operation. The research includes optic metallography, electron microscopy, X-ray crystal analysis and mechanical test" — explained Artyom Atamashkin. "Our objective is to find potentially dangerous sections which have emerging and enlarging cracks as a result of multiple-cycle fatigue of metal. Another goal is to determine the effects of basic welding modes and further heat treating for mechanical strength and durability of welded seams. As the result of research we can suggest the most rational technology for this type of joints.

The research is carried out in the laboratories of OSU Aerospace Institute and ZBO Drill Industries, Inc. The plant is currently interested in cooperating with scientists, since development of new fields with the bigger bedrock depth make drilling conditions more complicated.