Size effect on residual stress in low transformation temperature welded joints

It has been reported that low transformation temperature (LTT) weld metals are beneficial to generation of compressive residual stress around weld zone. In this study, the relationship among residual stress, size effect of LTT welded joints with different plate width and thickness as well as martensite start (Ms) temperatures was investigated by experimental and finite-element analysis. It was found that heat dissipation and thermal expansion coefficient of LTT weld metal had a significant impact on residual stress. Welded joint with a small plate width led to greater compressive residual stresses in the LTT weld, which was due to the lower heat dissipation and smaller thermal expansion coefficient of the LTT weld metal in due course of cooling process. Additionally, the finite-element analysis revealed that increasing plate width mainly affected the longitudinal residual stress, while increasing the plate thickness influenced all the residual stress components in the LTT weld. Furthermore, the LTT weld with a lower Ms temperature of 191 °C resulted in greater compressive residual stresses, and was less sensitive to the LTT joint size, as against the Ms temperature of 398 °C.