THE effect of residual stress and microstructure on distortion in thin welded steel plates

C. M. Davies, M. P. Lightfoot, N. P. O'Dowd, R. C. Wimpory, D. Dye, G. J. Bruce, M. Béreš, E. Oliver, K. M. Nikbin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The current trend in ship construction is to reduce the thickness of the ship panels, in order to minimize weight and maximize vessel speed. The ship panels of interest consist of 4 mm thick butt welded plates. This reduction in panel thickness may lead to excessive plate distortion during welding, resulting in significant additional costs during assembly. A ferritic-pearlitic DH-36 steel is used, in which phase transformations during welding may affect the distortion and stress states observed. Two large plates, representative of ship panels, have been butt welded using a metal inert gas (MIG) process. The temperature histories have been recorded during welding and the resulting distortion profile has been obtained using digital photography. Neutron diffraction measurements have been performed to determine the residual stress state in the plates before welding, due to e.g. processing and laser cutting, and after butt welding of the plates. Reference matchsticks from the weld, heat affected zone (HAZ) and parent plate have been taken from similar locations in nominally identical plates and measured to obtain the strain/stress free lattice parameter, a0. A Rietveld analysis has been performed on the diffraction data. Post welding, hardness surveys have indicated the microstructural variation in the weld, parent plate and HAZ. Results from these on-going studies are presented which identify the key factors responsible for thin plate distortion.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2007 Proceedings of the ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference - Materials and Fabrication
Pages851-858
Number of pages8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Event2007 ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, PVP 2007 - San Antonio, TX, United States
Duration: 22 Jul 200726 Jul 2007

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Pressure Vessels and Piping Division (Publication) PVP
Volume6
ISSN (Print)0277-027X

Conference

Conference2007 ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, PVP 2007
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Antonio, TX
Period22/07/0726/07/07

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'THE effect of residual stress and microstructure on distortion in thin welded steel plates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this