Recent Developments in Experimental and Numerical Assessments of Welding-Induced Residual Stresses

The objective of this work is to present and review the recent developments in the experimental and numerical assessment and simulation techniques on the welding induced distortions and residual stresses. The temperature distribution, welding induced distortion and residual stresses in thin walled welded structures, originating from different experimental tests are reviewed and discussed. Different mathematical models and their numerical applications in representing the heat source are analysed and their advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Thermal stress analyses employing the three-dimensional nonlinear thermo-elasto-plastic approaches and finite element simulations with inherent deformation applicable to large-scale and complex welded structures are also revised and discussed. Discussions on the material properties of the base metal, heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal, the effect of the welding sequence, and the pattern of residual stress distribution presented are given a special attention.