Reheat Cracking:
Occurs in creep resisting and some thick section structural low alloy steels during post weld heat treatment
Causes:
- Poor creep ductility in HAZ coupled with thermal stress
- Accentuated by severe notches such as preexisting cracks, or tears at weld toes, or unfused root of partial penetration weld
- Heat treatment may need to include low temperature soaking
- Grinding or peening weld toes after welding can be beneficial
