Residual stress measurements in a cruciform welded joint using hole drilling and strain gauges

Residual stress measurements were made close to the toe of each fillet weld on a load carrying cruciform welded specimen by the hole drilling technique. A standard milling guide with high speed air turbine was used in conjunction with bonded resistance strain gauge rosettes. Experimental calibrations of the method were conducted under known uniform uniaxial tension loads. A simple incremental drilling technique was used to determine the stress gradient with hole depth. Measurements were also made both at zero load and known tensile loads in order to study the interaction between residual stresses and the applied loads.