ANALYSIS OF A HEAT-AFFECTED ZONE AND RESIDUAL STRESSES IN WELDS.

Heat-affected zones and tensile residual stresses near the weldments in a welded joint are the weak regions where fracture can initiate. Based on Rosenthal's temperature distribution analysis, the heat-affected zone and the residual stresses were computed by adopting a step by step procedure taking into consideration the variation of thermal and mechanical properties of the material with temperature. Diagrams are presented which give the heat-affected zone and the residual stress zone in structural steel for different heat inputs. The theoretical analysis was verified by experimental results carried out on low carbon steels.