Determination of Residual Stresses due to Girth-Butt Welds in Pipes

Abstract

A state-of-the-art review of analytical and experimental determination of residual stresses due to girth-butt welds in pipes is presented. In the analytical category, closed-form as well as numerical (finite element) solutions are discussed in considerable detail. The results of the experimental studies, with primary focus on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, are highlighted. The effects of process and geometric parameters and of various thermal processes in controlling the tensile residual stress on the pipe inner surface are also reviewed.