Steel Structure Welding Residual Stress Analysis

The residual stress in steel structures can directly influence their ability of bearing loads. Therefore, it is an important subject to accurately estimate the mechanical behavior and the residual stresses in the welding structures, ensuring their safety. The test methods of measuring the residual stress are often by cutting or boring which not only take more time and more work, but lead to a greater error owing to many factors. The paper calculates the residual stresses through the finite element method, which overcomes the shortages of the test methods, and can testify the measuring results of the testing methods as well. So the research result is important to science research or engineering application.The paper firstly describes the testing methods of welding residual stress and the basic theories of finite element analysis. In the processing of numerical simulation of the steel plate welding residual stress, with the thermal-structure coupling function of Ansys software and the method of changing elements type or "Birth and Death", this paper deals with simulation analysis of the residual stress for the welding process of the butt welding. It uses Ansys APDL language to compile program to apply moving heat source load. Finally temperature distribution curve of each point and the size and distributed rules of the welding residual stress in welding line.Through the research and practical verification, this paper establishes a feasible dynamic simulation method on 3-D welding temperature field and residual stress field of butt welding plane, providing the theoretic analysis of residual stress and instruction, promoting the application of Finite Element Method on welding mechanics analysis and engineering.