Influences of heat source model on welding residual stress and distortion in a multi-pass J-groove joint

Welding mechanical behaviors including residual stress and distortion are highly non-linear phenomena in nature. When numerical simulation methods such as thermal elastic plastic finite element method (FEM) are used to quantitatively predict welding residual stress and distortion, a long computational time is required especially for multi-pass joints. In real engineering structures, many weldments have large dimensions and complex shapes, and they are usually assembled by a multi-pass welding process. Therefore, it is necessary to develop time-effective computational approaches for practice engineering analysis. In this study, a method based on variable length heat sources was proposed for the analysis of thermo-mechanical behaviors for multi-pass joints. The welding residual stress field in a dissimilar metal J-groove joint with axis-symmetric geometrical shape, which was performed by a semi-circle balanced welding process, was investigated using the proposed method. The simulation results were compared with the measured data as well as the simulation results computed by a moving heat source. Meanwhile, the instantaneous line heat source was also employed to estimate the welding residual stresses in the same joint in an extreme case. The influences of heat source model (type) on welding residual stress and distortion were discussed.     

铝锂合金电子束焊接数值模拟分析及工艺优化

采用组合热源模型对Al-Li合金电子束焊接温度场分布进行数值模拟分析,通过热-力耦合,模拟计算得到接头区域的残余应力分布.结果表明,Al-Li合金电子束焊接温度场沿焊接方向呈椭圆形分布,电子束热源中心的温度最高,其附近区域的等温线分布密集,随着与热源中心的距离增大,等温线分布逐渐稀疏,焊缝区存在较大的温度梯度,较好地模拟出了电子束焊缝的钉形分布特征.接头的残余应力分布模拟结果显示,残余应力主要集中于焊缝区,由于修饰焊的热作用,焊缝上部具有相对较大的应力值.利用模拟计算得到的结果进行焊接工艺及参数优化,焊接工艺试验表明,试验焊缝形貌与模拟熔池形貌相吻合,进一步验证了模拟计算结果的可靠性.     

Using FEM to determine the thermo-mechanical stress in tube to tube–sheet joint for the SCC failure analysis

The stress corrosion cracking in a weld of the tube to tube–sheet region of heat exchangers is a common problem. Thermo-mechanical stress in tube to tube–sheet joints including welding effect should be determined in this situation for failure analysis. In this paper, the Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to predict the thermo-mechanical stresses including welding residual stress in a tube to tube–sheet weld. Both the thermo-mechanical stress distribution with and without the welding residual stress have also been investigated by numerical simulation. The welding, operating temperature, and operating pressure have effect on total stresses. Especially, the welding residual stresses play an important role in total stress state in tube to tube–sheet joints. Geometric discontinuities of the vicinity of gap cause the welding joint to experience a local stress concentration. A high tensile stress in the tube to tube–sheet region has been demonstrated by FEM, which is the stress aspect for the SCC phenomenon of austenitic stainless steel in chloride environment.     

Validated numerical analysis of residual stresses in Safety Relief Valve (SRV) nozzle mock-ups

In general, the tensile residual stresses typically associated with weldments, and the presence of corrosive environments, are a major concern due to the possibility of Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC). In the case of the dissimilar metal welds typically used in the primary circuits of pressurised light water nuclear reactors the presence of tensile residual stress and corrosive environment leads to so-called Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking (PWSCC). It is thus of technological importance to know the residual stresses associated with the dissimilar metal welds in order to assess the susceptibility of components to PWSCC. The current paper presents finite element simulations of the full manufacturing process of dissimilar metal weld mock-ups with and without a full structural overlay weld. The present simulations are validated by comparison with deep hole drilling (DHD) and incremental deep hole drilling (iDHD) residual stress measurements. A dedicated welding heat source modelling tool was used in order to reduce the uncertainties in the thermal solution by calibrating ellipsoidal Gaussian volumetric heat sources using the detailed welding records. In the mechanical analysis a mixed isotropic–kinematic (Lemaitre-Chaboche) material hardening model was employed to produce the most representative material response to the cyclic thermo-mechanical loading imposed during welding.     

Residual stress reduction in the penetration nozzle weld joint by overlay welding

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in the penetration nozzle weld joint endangers the structural reliability of pressure vessels in nuclear and chemical industries. How to decrease the residual stress is very critical to ensure the structure integrity. In this paper, a new method, which uses overlay welding on the inner surface of nozzle, is proposed to decrease the residual stresses in the penetration joint. Finite element simulation is used to study the change of weld residual stresses before and after overlay welding. It reveals that this method can mainly decrease the residual stress in the weld root. Before overlay welding, large tensile residual stresses are generated in the weld root. After overlay weld, the tensile hoop stress in weld root has been decreased about 45%, and the radial stress has been decreased to compressive stress, which is helpful to decrease the susceptibility to SCC. With the increase of overlay welding length, the residual stress in weld root has been greatly decreased, and thus the long overlay welding is proposed in the actual welding. It also finds that this method is more suitable for thin nozzle rather than thick nozzle.     

Residual stresses due to gas arc welding of aluminum alloy joints by numerical simulations

This study deals with the numerical simulation of the gas arc welding process of Aluminum tee joints using finite element analysis and evaluation of the effect of welding parameters on residual stress build up. The 3D simulations are performed using ABAQUS code for thermo-mechanical analyses with moving heat source, material deposition, solid-liquid phase transition, temperature dependent material properties, metal elasticity and plasticity, and transient heat transfer. Quasi Newton method is used for the analysis routine and thermo-mechanical coupling is assumed; i.e. the thermal analysis is completed before performing a separate mechanical analysis based on the thermal history. The residual stress build up and temperature history state in a three-dimensional analysis of the tee joint is then compared to experimental results. Hole drilling method is used for measuring the residual stress, while temperature history is measured by thermocouples. After carrying out numerical simulations, the effects of voltage/current, welding speed, material thickness and size of electrode on residual stress build-up and resulting distortions are evaluated.     

Influence of Heat Input on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser Welding GH4169 Bolt Assembly—Numerical and Experimental Analysis

By conducting the numerical and experimental analysis, the influence of heat input on the microstructures and mechanical properties of laser welding GH4169 bolt assembly is systematically investigated. The weld formation, temperature field, and residual stress distribution during laser welding by using the finite element modeling are consistent with experimental results. The numerical simulation results show that the increase of heat input imparts lower residual stresses and higher temperature gradient. During the process of laser welding, the steepest temperature gradient and the peak residual stress arise in the fusion zone (FZ). In addition, the dissolution of γ″ and γ′ toward the fusion line increases in heat affected zone (HAZ), but only Laves phase is observed in FZ. With increasing heat input from 24 to 48 J mm⁻¹, the ultimate tensile strength of welded joints decreases. Both the lowest microhardness values and tensile failure of GH4169 alloy laser welded joint are in FZ. Herein, it is that the relationship among the heat input, microstructures, and mechanical properties of GH4196 bolt assembly in laser welding is systematically established, which will be of guiding significance for the selection of welding parameters in aerospace.     

Residual stress assessment of nickel-based alloy 690 welding parts

Failures of welding parts in nuclear power plants have increased significantly. One of main degradation mechanisms was initiation and growth of primary water stress corrosion cracking accelerated by residual stress at dissimilar metal welds of piping, reactor head penetrations and nozzles connecting major components. Therefore, estimation of the welding residual stress became an important issue for ensuring reliability of them. The present study deals with verification of welding simulation techniques through sensitivity analyses of bottom-mounted instrumentation nozzle mock-up and control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) nozzle mock-up, examination of residual stress effects for a welded cylindrical block and application of the residual stress evaluation method to real penetration nozzles of CRDM made of nickel-based alloy 690.     

初始应力对三维光学轮廓法测试焊接接头残余应力的影响

目的研究不同初始应力状态下,三维光学轮廓法测试焊接接头残余应力的变化规律。方法采用MIG焊分别对供货态与去应力退火态试板进行多层多道焊,焊后试板经慢走丝切割,经三维光学测量技术扫描切割面轮廓,将所得轮廓数据经所建立的数据处理平台处理,将其结果作为有限元计算的边界条件,经应力反算得到残余应力分布。最后再进行有限元模拟,计算焊接接头残余应力。结果含初始应力、去应力退火和数值模拟的焊缝中心均为拉应力区,最大拉应力分别为480, 450, 523 MPa,且都位于焊缝根部区域。三者试板两侧为压应力区域,最大压应力分别为380, 280, 157 MPa,三者数值相差较大。结论将含有初始残余应力试板、退火处理试板与数值模拟结果的残余应力分布进行对比,可以发现三者在焊缝中心处的残余应力分布较为一致,但沿着焊缝向两侧的区域内,应力差别逐渐变大。主要原因为焊接热循环温度高于金属再结晶温度时可以消除部分残余应力,而温度循环较低时对应力消除不明显,导致实验结果相差较大。     

平板焊接接头纵向残余应力修正估算公式

为研究不同焊接参数对平板焊接接头残余应力大小的影响规律, 采用ANSYS软件, 建立了大量焊接试件的三维热弹塑性有限元模型, 对其温度场和应力场进行了数值模拟. 根据数值模拟结果, 考虑不同焊接参数、焊道数以及板件热流分配系数的影响, 对拉应力区半宽的计算公式进行了修正. 在此基础上, 采用指数函数对纵向焊接残余应力进行了拟合, 得到了预测不同焊接接头纵向残余应力分布规律和大小的修正估算公式. 最后设计了多组焊接构件模型, 采用盲孔法实测了其残余应力大小和分布规律, 并与估算公式的计算结果进行了对比, 结果表明:两者吻合良好, 验证了该文修正残余应力估算公式的有效性.     

A residual stress dependent multiaxial fatigue life model of welded structures

In this paper, the influence of the residual stress on the fatigue performance of a welded structure under multiaxial loading modes is studied. First, the local stress state at weld toe is modified via introduction of the residual stress, and a new fatigue life estimation model considering the effect of the residual stress is established by modifying our recently proposed critical plane method. Second, the basic theory and procedure of the finite element simulation on the calculation of the welding residual stress are presented. Finally, a numerical simulation of an aluminum alloy flange‐to‐tube welding process is conducted, and the calculated residual stress is verified with X‐ray diffraction measurement. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed fatigue life estimation model is verified by the experimental data obtained in the fatigue test under different loading modes. It confirms that the consideration of the residual stress is important, especially under the out‐of‐phase loading mode.     

Numerical analysis of welded joint treated by explosion shock waves

This paper focuses on the simulation of welding residual stresses and the action of explosion shock waves on welding residual stresses. Firstly, the distributions of welding temperature field and residual stress on a butt joint were numerically simulated with the sequentially coupled method. Secondly, the effect of explosion shock waves, produced by plastic strip-like explosive, on welding residual stress distribution was predicted with coupled Lagrange-ALE algorithm. It was implicated that explosion treatment could effectively reduce welding residual stresses. The simulation work lays a foundation for the further research on the rule of explosion treatment’s effect on welding residual stresses and the factors that may influence it.     

U肋加劲板焊接残余应力数值模拟分析

通过数值模拟和实验方法对U 肋加劲板焊接残余应力进行了估算和分析,建立了三维热弹塑性有限元模型,采用生死单元法模拟焊缝填充和焊接热输入过程,实现了整个焊接过程中的动态应力和变形变化,得到了U肋加劲板的焊接温度场和应力场,分析了U 肋加劲板的焊接残余应力分布,并与残余应力测试试验结果比较.结果显示:U 肋加劲板近焊缝区残余拉应力达到材料屈服强度,母板远离焊缝区残余压应力平均值约为材料屈服强度的0.2 倍,其分布趋势与实验测试得到的残余应力分布比较接近,证明了所采用的焊接数值模拟方法的正确性.     

FEM prediction of welding residual stresses in a SUS304 girth-welded pipe with emphasis on stress distribution near weld start/end location

A finite element approach based on Quick Welder software is developed to simulate welding temperature field and welding residual stress distribution in a 3D multi-pass girth-welded pipe model. The characteristics of welding residual stress distributions in a SUS304 stainless steel pipe induced by heating with a tungsten inert gas arc welding torch are investigated numerically. Meanwhile, an emphasis is focused on examining the welding residual stress distributions in and near the weld start/end location. Moreover, the residual stresses predicted by the present computational approach are compared with the measured data; and the comparison suggests that the numerical simulation method has basically captured the feature of welding residual stress distribution near the weld start/end region. The numerical simulation results show that both the hoop and the axial residual stresses near the weld start/end region have sharp gradients and are significantly different from those in the steady range.     

6061-T6铝合金中厚板-节点套多层多道焊数值模拟

为研究铝合金中厚板-节点套接头在多层多道焊后的残余应力和变形分布,本文基于ABAQUS软件建立了该接头三维有限元模型,采用双椭球热源、生死单元法以及顺序耦合法,对6061-T6铝合金中厚板-节点套多层多道焊进行数值模拟,并分析了接头的温度场,以及在夹具约束下的焊接残余应力及变形的分布情况。研究结果表明:数值模拟与实际接头的熔池形状吻合度较高;摆动焊接过程中温度曲线呈多峰结构;焊件的升温速率明显大于冷却速率,且冷却速率随时间逐渐减小;焊接残余应力主要集中在焊缝及夹具区域,且小于6061-T6铝合金在室温下的屈服强度;接头的最大横向残余应力为129.9 MPa,中厚板上的横向残余应力大于节点套上的横向残余应力;接头的最大纵向残余应力为132.9 MPa,沿焊接方向,焊缝处的纵向残余应力呈山峰状分布;该接头在Y轴方向上的变形最大,为1.494 mm,该接头的最终变形结果为上凸变形。     

Through‐wall welding residual stress profiles for dissimilar metal nozzle butt welds in pressurized water reactors

This paper provides approximate expressions for through‐wall welding residual stresses in dissimilar metal nozzle butt welds of pressurized water reactors. An idealized shape of nozzle is proposed, based on which systematic elastic–plastic thermo‐mechanical finite element analyses are conducted by varying the thickness and radius of the nozzle and the length of the safe‐end. Based on the results, a through‐wall welding residual stress profile for dissimilar metal nozzle butt welds is proposed by modifying the existing welding residual stress profile for austenitic pipe butt welds in the R6 procedure.     

转速对 7075-T651 铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接件内部残余应力分布的影响

目的掌握铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接板内部残余应力的分布,为控制焊接残余应力、改进焊接工艺和提高焊接件质量。方法以13.6 mm厚的7075-T651铝合金为研究对象,用短波长X射线衍射技术,对在不同搅拌头转速下搅拌摩擦焊接板内部的残余应力进行了无损测试,并对焊接接头在板厚中心层上的微观组织和显微硬度进行了研究。结果在垂直于焊缝截面上的显微硬度均呈"W"型分布,焊核区的显微硬度高于其两侧的热机械影响区和热影响区,但低于母材区的硬度;随着转速的增大,接头硬度的最小值减小,低硬度区的范围越大。横向残余应力绝对值整体小于焊接方向;焊核区为正应力,热机械影响区残余应力减小且变化梯度最大;残余应力的极大值位于热影响区和热机械影响区的交界处;残余应力极大值与硬度最小值的位置重合。结论通过残余应力的无损检测分析,不仅可以直接获得加工件内部应力分布,还可以间接获得加工件内部的加工缺陷情况,为改进加工工艺、提高成形精度提供依据。     

Residual Stress Evolution in Repair Welds

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to study the influence of the repair procedure on the evolution of residual stress distribution in butt welds. C-Mn steel coupon plates of 11 mm thickness were prepared, subjected to stress relief heat treatment and welded with two beads, using the gas metal arc welding process. After the deposition of two weld beads, two successive repair welds were made on the middle length of the second bead. Longitudinal and transverse residual stresses were measured in the vicinity of the weld, after deposition of the two weld beads and after each repair weld. Residual stress evaluation was conducted using an X-ray diffraction method. The repair welds caused a decrease in magnitude of the initial longitudinal residual welding stresses, and an increase of the transverse residual stress magnitude, in tension at points within the repair length, and in compression at points outside the repair length.     

U肋加劲板焊接残余应力的一种简化计算方法

基于焊接残余应力数值模拟方法, 分析了U 肋加劲板各组成板件的板宽、板厚对焊接残余应力分布的影响, 揭示了U 肋与母板残余应力合力的分配规律, 提出了针对不同构造尺寸的U 肋加劲板焊接残余应力分布简化计算方法。研究结果表明:各组成板件的板宽变化对焊接残余拉应力的分布影响较小, 但对焊接残余压应力的大小影响较大;U 肋与母板的板厚比对U 肋与母板残余应力的分配比例影响较大。U 肋加劲板受压承载力计算时, 焊接残余应力分布可以采用简化方法计算, 其结果与根据数值模拟得到的焊接残余应力分布计算的结果基本一致。     

A comparative study on welding temperature fields,residual stress distributions and deformations induced by laser beam welding and CO2 gas arc welding

Welding-induced distortion in thin-plate structure is a serious problem which not only hinders the assembling process but also negatively affects the performance of product. Therefore, how to control welding deformation is a key issue both at design stage and at manufacturing stage. During welding process, there are a number of factors which can significantly affect manufacturing accuracy. Among these factors, the heat input is one of the largest contributors to the final deformation. Generally, when laser beam welding (LBW) is used to join parts the total heat input is far less than that used in a conventional welding method such as gas metal arc welding, so it is expected that LBW can significantly reduce welding distortion especially for thin-plate joints. As a fundamental research, we investigated the welding deformations in low carbon steel thin-plate joints induced by LBW and CO₂ gas arc welding by means of both numerical simulation technology and experimental method in the current study. Based on the experimental measurements and simulation results, we quantitatively compared the welding deformation as well as residual stress induced by LBW and those due to CO₂ gas arc welding. The results indicate that the out-of-plane deformation of thin-plate joint can be largely reduced if CO₂ gas arc welding method is replaced by LBW. Moreover, the numerical results indicate that the residual stresses induced by LBW are superior to those produced by CO₂ gas arc welding both in distribution and in magnitude.