Numerical analysis of residual stresses in welds of similar or dissimilar steel weldments under superimposed tensile loads

Abstract This paper presented the characteristics of residual stresses in welds of similar or dissimilar steel weldments by carrying out three-dimensional (3-D) thermal elastic–plastic finite element (FE) analyses. Moreover, residual stress behavior in welds of the weldments under superimposed tensile loads was further investigated. The materials used in this investigation were SM400, SM490, SM520 and SM570, widely used structural steels in welded structure. Results show that the maximum longitudinal residual stresses in welds of the similar steel weldments increase with increasing yield stress of the steel welded (SM400