Effect of the welding heat input on residual stresses in butt-welds of dissimilar pipe joints

This study used finite element techniques to analyse the thermo-mechanical behaviour and residual stresses in dissimilar butt-welded pipes. The residual stresses at the surface of some weld specimens were measured experimentally by using the hole-drilling method. The results of the finite element analysis were compared with experimentally measured data to evaluate the accuracy of the finite element modelling. Based on this study, a modelling procedure with reasonable accuracy was developed. The developed finite element modelling was used to study the effects of welding heat input on magnitude and distribution of welding residual stresses in butt-welded pipes made of ferritic and austenitic steels. The hoop and axial residual stresses in dissimilar pipe joints of 8 mm thick for V-groove shape were studied. It is shown that the welding heat input has a significant effect on magnitude and distribution of residual stresses in the stainless steel side of the studied joints.