Challenges in the evaluation of the weldability of old mild steels for future use

Abstract For reasons of sustainability and cost efficiency, there is an increasing trend in the steel-processing industry to retrofit existing structures, avoiding costly shutdowns or dismantling. Although welding is a cost-effective joining method, it is rarely applied to old steels, whereas riveted or bolted connections are often uneconomical. Repair and refurbishment frequently require the replacement of damaged material or the creation of dissimilar old–new steel joints. Due to the varied manufacturing processes of historical steels, not all twentieth-century steels are inherently weldable, making an initial assessment of weldability essential. In this study, a historical non-deoxidized mild steel (produced by Siemens–Martin processing) originating from the construction of the Berlin Radio Tower (erected in 1926) was investigated using dilatometry to analyze its welding behavior. A database of welding CCT diagrams and HAZ simulations was established to support practice-oriented welding experiments, providing key insights into their weld-metallurgical behavior and weldability. Furthermore, initial welding trials were conducted, and the local residual stress states in dissimilar old–new steel joints were determined. These foundational investigations are critical for the development of innovative, load-adapted welding concepts for the repair and refurbishment of existing old-steel infrastructure in Germany.