Prediction of welding residual stress in multipass narrow gap welded pipes with large thickness

The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of post weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the distribution of residual stress in welded pipes with large thickness. The detailed pass-by-pass finite element simulation was developed to study the residual stress in narrow gap multipass welding of pipes with a wall thickness of 150 mm and 89 weld beads. The effect of PWHT on welding residual stress was also investigated by means of numerical analysis. The simulated results show that the hoop stress is tensile stress in the weld region and compressive stress in the parent metal areas adjacent to weld seam. After heat treatment, the residual stresses decrease substantially, and the simulated residual stress is validated by the experimental one. The distribution of the through-wall axial residual stress along the weld center line is a self-equilibrating type.