Behaviour of stresses in T-Joint fillet welds under superimposed mechanical loading

Abstract

T-joint fillet welds are extensively used in the production of many engineering and structural components. Due to the localized heating and subsequent cooling, highly non-uniform temperature distributions occur across the fillet welds and the base metal, which finally result in undesired residual stresses. The combination of high-tensile residual stresses in the region near the weld and applied operating tensile stresses can be detrimental to the integrity and the service behaviour of the welded part. In this study, we present the characteristics of residual stresses in T-joint fillet welds by carrying out three-dimensional thermal elastic-plastic finite element analysis. Moreover, stress behaviour in T-joint fillet welds under superimposed mechanical loading is further investigated. Results of residual stresses induced by the T-joint fillet welding process and stress behaviour under superimposed mechanical tensile loads are discussed in detail.