Residual stresses in as-welded joints: finite element modeling and neutron diffraction stress measurements

• Presented at: 10th International Conference on Fracture and Damage Mechanics, Dubrovnik, Croatia, September 19-21, 2011
• Published in: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Fracture and Damage Mechanics, p. 335-338
• Publication date: 2012

This paper describes the numerical analysis method used to estimate welding in- duced residual stresses in K-shape tubular bridge joints. The knowledge of residual stress distri- bution is required to design the geometry of K-joints loaded under fatigue stresses. Numerical simulations are focused on the arc welding MAG process, generally used to weld joints in bridge construction. Thermo-mechanical analyses are performed in 3D using two finite element codes: ABAQUS and MORFEO . ABAQUS has the advantage to offer large analysis capabilities (nonlinear, transient, dynamic, etc.) whereas MORFEO is more dedicated to welding processes and offers the possibility to analyze crack propagation under fatigue loads. Computed residual stresses in the region surrounding the weld are compared with measured residual stresses in order to estimate the ability of the codes to reproduce these stresses. Position, orientation and magnitude of the highest residual stress components are discussed.

Keywords: Welded joints, Residual strain and stress, Finite element analysis, Neutron diffraction

Reference

• EPFL-CONF-167896

Record created on 2011-08-12, modified on 2012-03-28