Residual stress measurement at the weld root of rib-to-deck welded joints in orthotropic steel bridge decks using the contour method

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive study on measuring residual stress (RS) distribution at the weld root of rib-to-deck joints using the contour method (CM). Two different cutting techniques were performed at the weld root to examine their influence on the distribution of mapped RS. A fully automated data processing code was developed to prepare and treat the raw measured displacements where the smoothed displacements were printed out as constraints normal to the cut surface. Linear elastic calculations were carried out to map RS distribution across the cut surface. Different boundary conditions (BCs) cases were also studied to examine their influence on the resulting energy as well as RS distribution. The results provide full 2D maps of RS distribution across the cut surface. The results reveal compressive RS is induced at the weld root for the two cutting techniques. It is also noticed that the applied cutting techniques influence the distribution of mapped RS. Further, the examined BCs cases show a small influence on the resulting energy while they have a negligible impact on the general distribution of mapped RS. Moreover, 2D stress maps were prepared by means of the plane strain condition to provide a general image of RS distribution, especially at the weld root. The results obtained by the plane strain condition give a good understanding of the induced RS distribution at the weld root for the two cutting techniques.