A Simplified Numerical-Analysis Of Residual-Stresses In Aluminum Welded Plates

The residual stresses originated in a welded Al-5D83-O aluminum alloy plate are numerically studied. The thermal field is simulated by means of one analytical solution of the infinite plate, after which two thermal approaches are introduced, the temperature not changing along the welding direction in either case. The thermomechanical problem is solved by using a code based on the finite element technique (ABAQUS). The influence on the residual stresses of the strain hardening and the temperature material properties dependency has been considered. A plane stress model is used, the concordance of the numerical results thus obtained with the experimental measurements obtained using the blind hole technique being excellent. A discussion of the inability of a plain strain model to reproduce the experimental results is finally presented. The general conclusions of this study can be extended to annealed aluminum alloys (type O), whose elastic properties are not susceptible to change under heat treatment.