Computational studies of residual and temporary welding stresses in a multiple-pass butt welded joint made of titanium pseudo-β-alloy

Abstract

Welding operations in the manufacture of marine structural parts from titanium pseudo-β-alloys of large thicknesses inevitably lead to the occurrence of residual stresses that arise in various areas of the weld and the weld-affected zone and contribute in some cases to the occurrence of defects and cracks. The development of high-gradient fields of temporary and residual welding stress, occurring at various locations within the weld joint and heat-affected zones, poses a specific risk. These stress fields can contribute to the formation of defects and cracks in certain circumstances. Computer simulation of welding processes is extensively utilized today for analyzing and predicting the performance of welded joints, as well as optimizing the welding process. Given the substantial complexity involved in modeling welding operations, mathematical descriptions of these processes have increasingly embraced numerical methods over the past decade. These methods, grounded in Finite Element Method (FEM) software solutions, facilitate the resolution of thermodeformation challenges within spatiotemporal parameters. The purpose of this work is to develop a calculation method that models the formation of temporary and residual welding stresses during sequential filling of the weld bevel and its non-simultaneous execution along the length of the joint.