Study on welding buckling evaluation method based on inherent strain theory and eigenvalue buckling analysis

Abstract

Welding buckling deformation is one of the foremost failure modes of thin plate welded structures. It is important to estimate welding buckling for structural design and process optimization. Inherent strain-based welding buckling evaluation methods have been proved to be valid, but the existing methods have low efficiency due to requiring multiple inherent forces. In this study, a novel welding buckling evaluation method based on longitudinal shrinkage force was established. The effectiveness of the proposed method was validated using a butt welded joint. In addition, this method was applied in a large-scale thin plate structure for evaluating the structural stability, the effects of heat input, welding manner, and external constraints on welding deformation and buckling were also discussed. The results reveal that the proposed inherent strain-based welding buckling evaluation method can be used to judge whether welded structures are buckled. The reduction of welding heat input and the use of single-sided welding can mitigate welding deformation. Increasing external constraints can not only reduce the welding deformation, but also improve the welding critical buckling load for preventing welding buckling.