Numerical study on residual stress generated in slit welded joints under restraint/loading

Abstract

For examining the characteristics of residual stress generated in slit welded joints under restraint or loading, a series of numerical simulation was carried out. The residual stress in weld metal in the cross direction to the weld line under the condition that the in-plane displacement at the plate edge was fixed (i.e., the external restraint condition) was larger than that when the displacement was not fixed. However, the residual stress under the constant tensile loading on the plate edge was almost the same as that under the external restraint condition. The degree of the restraint in the slit under the various boundary conditions could be relatively evaluated by the restraint intensity. Although the slit length was the same, the welding residual stress varied from 20 to 80% of the yield stress due to the difference of the degree of the restraint.