Keywords: structural weld simulation, process chain, work-hardening, high-strength steel, residual stresses, fatigue.

This paper shows a novel method to incorporate the transient work-hardening effect of different material phases into a thermo-mechanically coupled structural weld process simulation. The work-hardening behaviour of metals differs for "soft" ferritic-perlitc and "hard" bainitic, or even martensitic, phases. Previously conducted experimental work revealed that a soft material phase or rather a high operating temperature are mainly related to isotropic work-hardening, though the hard phased microstructure and accordingly ambient operating temperature are closer equated to a combined work-hardening. An enhanced methodology to implement the temperature- and phase-dependent work-hardening into structural weld process simulation is given. A longitudinal stiffener is chosen as a three-dimensional application example. The change in transient work-hardening is evaluated both for common construction steel S355J2G3 and high-strength steel S700MC. The simulated residual stress state after welding, unclamping and final cool-down is characteristically affected by the material dependent transient work-hardening behaviour. Finally, the effect of cyclic loading is depicted for selected loads in the finite-life fatigue region of the longitudinal stiffener specimen.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £45 +P&P)