Residual Stress in the Welding Joint of Layered Cylindrical Vessels Including the Weld Clad Effect

Abstract

Layered cylindrical vessels are widely used in process industries. The weld clad is applied before the girth welding of layered-to-layered sections. In this paper, a numerical method was used to predict residual stresses in a layered-to-layered joint with weld clad. The results showed that high residual stresses were generated in the weld and heat affect zone (HAZ), and a discontinuous stress distribution was generated. The through-wall axial residual stress at the weld centerline (WCL) was predominately tensile. The axial residual stress in each layer at the HAZ demonstrated a bending type distribution. The through-wall hoop residual stress at the WCL was predominately compressive in the V-groove zone, and it was tensile in the U-groove zone. The weld clad can decrease the peak residual stress in the tip of the interlayer gaps.