Temperature fields in simulation of butt‐welding of large plates

Abstract

AbstractThe simulation of butt‐welding of plates has been performed. Temperature fields were calculated by the use of analytical solutions instead of using the finite element method as was done in Reference 1. The analytical solutions were studied in order to find possible simplifications in the thermal analysis. The thermal material properties were assumed to be independent of temperature in the analytical solutions. The heat flow in the welding direction was neglected in one of these solutions. Three different analytical solutions were studied in the five simulations performed. The mechanical analysis was performed by the finite element method. A thermo‐elastoplastic formulation, considering temperature‐dependent mechanical material properties, was adopted. Volume changes due to phase transformations were also accounted for. Change in gap width in front of the moving arc and residual stresses were calculated in the mechanical analysis. It was found that the temperatures could be calculated from analytical solutions if the residual stresses are of interest. The finite element method should be used to calculate temperatures if the change in gap width is of interest. It was also found that the heat flow along the weld could be neglected even for low welding speeds.