Effects of different restraints on the weld-induced residual deformations and stresses in a steel plate

Effects of three different plate boundary constraints on the residual stress field and deformation are investigated numerically during butt-joint welding. For the numerical solution of the heat transfer equations, the finite element method is used to predict the temperature profile as well as residual stress field due to three different plate boundary conditions. The distortion of the welded plate is modeled as a nonlinear problem in geometry and material, adopting a finite element solution based upon the thermo-elastic-plastic large deflection theory. High-strength shipbuilding steel AH36 with temperature-depending material properties and nonlinear stress-strain material properties (bilinear isotropic hardening option uses the von Mises yield criteria) are assumed for the numerical analysis. For verifying the results, the temperature profile is compared with the result obtained in a previous research. In the mechanical analysis, three different boundary conditions are applied. Effects of plate thickness, plate width, and mesh model on the residual stress with boundary constraint are studied.