Residual Stresses Due to Circumferential Welds

Abstract

The residual stress distribution produced by a circumferential weld between axisymmetric shells (cylinders, spheres, cones, etc.) is quite different from that due to a butt weld between two flat plates. The reason for this difference is pointed out and it is shown that the state of stress in thin-walled shells may be estimated from that in a plate. Since a simple approximate method for predicting residual stresses in a butt-welded flat plate is available, it is possible to estimate the stresses due to a circumferential weld from the welding conditions and certain material properties. Experimental results show good agreement with the predictions.