An analytical and experimental study of the effects of welding parameters on fusion welds

Abstract

A major concern in welding structures is the determination of a proper welding procedure, i.e., travel speed, power and preheat, in the presence of external mechanical constraints or constraints self-induced by the structure's shape. This paper discusses a study to characterize the effects of certain parameters upon the deformations and residual stresses produced by circular welds on a thin plate. In this work, relatively simple modeling assumptions are used to gain insight into the behavior of welded structures. The temperatures, distortions and residual stresses predicted by the models are verified by comparison to baseline experiments. The models are then used to explore the effects that factors such as heat sinking, preheating and geometry have on the deformations and residual stresses in the workpiece.