| 2026 №03 (01) | 2026 №03 (03) |
The Paton Welding Journal, 2026, #3, 12-22 pages
Restoration of riveted cylindrical tanks using welding
A.Yu. Barvinko, Yu.P. Barvinko, A.M. Yashnyk, O.S. Kostenevych
E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NASU. 11 Kazymyr Malevych Str., 03150, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: tanksweld@gmail.comAbstract
As a result of the conducted research, it was found that low-carbon steel with content of 0.045‒0.05 % C and 0.4‒0.5 Mn was used for the shell of riveted tanks. Taking into account the nitrogen content at the level of 0.003 % N and oxygen 0.03 % O at a low carbon level, the studied steel may be considered as semi-killed. The sulphur content in steel can reach 0.1 % S. However, taking into account that the structure of the base metal and the HAZ is mainly represented by a sufficiently fine-grained ferrite, the impact energy of steel at T = + 15.5 °C (60 F) satisfies the condition KVmin = 20 J, embrittlement of the overheated zone metal is not observed. This indicates the possibility of sufficiently eliminating brittle fracture of welded joints of the specified steel and restoring the riveted tanks using welding. Based on the conducted studies, technical solutions for the complete (partial) replacement of riveted metal structures with welded ones were developed and tested during the repair of tanks after 114 years and 86 years of their operation: bottom, replacement of part of the shell, welding in pipes into the shell and installing a new roof. Successful operation for 10 years with the maximum level of oil product filling of the restored riveted tanks confirmed the correctness of the made decisions.
Keywords: low carbon steel, weldability, brittle fracture, welded structures, riveted tank, repair
Received: 12.06.2025
Received in revised form: 23.10.2025
Accepted: 06.02.2026
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