Experimental verification of distortion analysis of welded stiffeners

This paper presents an experimental verification for the predictive distortion analysis approach proposed in Michaleris & DeBicarri (1996,1997) and Vanli & Michaleris (2001) for welded T-type stiffeners. The predictive technique employing the decoupled 2-D and 3-D approach is used for the prediction of buckling distortion and the magnitude of bowing distortion. Two-dimensional thermo-mechanical welding process simulations are performed to determine the residual stress. The critical buckling stress along with the buckling mode are computed in 3-D eigenvalue analyses. Large deformation analyses are carried out to predict the magnitude of bowing distortion. Experimental validation of the prediction is carried out in the lab. Welding experiments are carried out using welding conditions identical to those used in the FEA model. The computational results are then verified with experimental observations.