Load analyses of welded high-strength steel structures using image correlation and diffraction techniques
- In an increasing number of modern steel applications high-strength steel grades are demanded to meet specifications regarding a high load bearing capacity and a low operating weight. Lightweight design rules enhance the safety requirements, especially for welded joints. Besides a higher cracking risk for HSLA steel welds, the formation of tensile residual stresses might lead to fracture due to overloading or premature failure if not adequately considered. In codes and standards, therefore, residual stress on the amount of the yield strength are expected, disregarding the circumstance that generally the residual stresses are much lower in HSLA steel welds. Oftentimes this leads to an underestimation of the proof strength in high-strength welded components and economical disadvantages using HSLA steels. In this study, a stress-strain analysis was conducted at component related structures from S960QL using digital image correlation while preheating welding and cooling adjacent to the weldIn an increasing number of modern steel applications high-strength steel grades are demanded to meet specifications regarding a high load bearing capacity and a low operating weight. Lightweight design rules enhance the safety requirements, especially for welded joints. Besides a higher cracking risk for HSLA steel welds, the formation of tensile residual stresses might lead to fracture due to overloading or premature failure if not adequately considered. In codes and standards, therefore, residual stress on the amount of the yield strength are expected, disregarding the circumstance that generally the residual stresses are much lower in HSLA steel welds. Oftentimes this leads to an underestimation of the proof strength in high-strength welded components and economical disadvantages using HSLA steels. In this study, a stress-strain analysis was conducted at component related structures from S960QL using digital image correlation while preheating welding and cooling adjacent to the weld seam. X-ray diffraction analysis of the local residual stresses in the weld seam showed a good comparability with the global analyses. The comparison of two different seam geometries revealed significantly lower multi-axial stresses if a narrower weld groove is used.…