NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON RESIDUAL STRESSES IN MULTI-RUN HEAVY SECTION HIGH STRENGTH WELDED JOINTS

Residual stresses (transverse) were determined for multirun submerged arc welded (SAW) X-joints fabricated in thermomechanically rolled plates of 70 mm thick S450 ML high strength steel with a yield strength level of 500 MPa. During welding the plates were stiffened by strongbacks. The joints were investigated in the ‘as welded’ condition. The determination of resulting residual stresses in the above mentioned joints was performed both by numerical calculations based on SYSWELD - software application as well as by non-destructive experimental X-ray diffraction technique. The results obtained by numerical simulation and by experimental measurements are given in terms of transverse stresses near the surface (top beads) of the first welded side of the X-joints. The experimental and numerical results show good agreement and will be discussed in detail.