Numerical Simulation and Experimental Investigation of Temperature and Residual Stress Distributions in a Circular Patch Welded Structure

• Main Authors: Mato Perić, Sandro Nižetić, Zdenko Tonković, Ivica Garašić, Ivan Horvat, Ivanka Boras
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: MAG welding; buried-arc welding; infrared camera; thermocouples; welding residual stresses; patch weld
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/20/5423

In this study, we performed a numerical simulation and experimental measurements on a steel circular patch welded structure to investigate the temperature and residual stress field distributions caused by the application of buried-arc welding technology. The temperature histories during the welding and subsequent cooling process were recorded for two locations, with the thermocouples mounted inside the plate close to the weld bead. On the upper surface of the welded model, the temperature-time changes during the cooling process were monitored using an infrared camera. The numerically calculated temperature values correlated well with the experimentally measured ones, while the maximum deviation of the measured and calculated temperatures was within 9%. Based on the numerical result analysis regarding circumferential and radial stresses after the completion of the welding process, it is concluded that both stresses are primarily tensile within the circular disk. Outside the disk, the circumferential stresses turn from tensile to compressive, while on the other hand the radial stresses disappear towards the ends of the plate.