FE CALCULATIONS OF STRESS-FIELDS FROM CRACKS LOCATED AT THE FUSION LINE OF WELDMENTS

This paper investigates the stress fields for a crack located at the f usion line of a weldment. The strength mis-matching and the size of th e HAZ were varied, and the corresponding distribution of the maximum p rincipal stress was examined. The weld metal strength was globally ove rmatched with respect to the base material, but locally over-and under matched with respect to the heat affected zone. Three cases of mis-mat ch were compared, and it was found that reducing the strength of the H AZ lowered the maximum principal stresses. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science L td.