Three-dimensional finite element analysis of residual stresses in dissimilar steel pipe welds

Dissimilar steel pipe welds are commonly found in various industrial applications due to both technical and economic reasons. The safety assessment practice for such welds requires residual stresses to be taken into consideration. Therefore, it is of critical importance to estimate the magnitude and distribution of residual stresses in dissimilar steel girth-welded pipe joints. This study describes the three-dimensional thermal elastic-plastic analysis using finite element (FE) techniques to accurately capture the residual stress states in dissimilar steel pipe welds between carbon and stainless steel pipes. The thermo-mechanical FE model used as well as the analysis methodology is detailed. Analysis of the results has revealed that residual stresses in the dissimilar steel girth-welded pipe are by no means of the same magnitude or distribution as those in the corresponding similar steel counterparts. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.