Effects of Clamps on Welding Distortion in Thin Aluminum Alloy Plate

The three-dimensional numerical simulation of welding process for aluminum alloy thin plate under the conditions of different clampings was performed by means of thermal-elastic-plastic FEM technology; and the longitudinal flexibility in thickness of 5 mm aluminum alloy thin plate was investigated using pulsed TIG welding technology and different clamp arrangements. The results show that there is an tensile action on welding plasticity zone in cooling process, and residual longitudinal plastic strain is reduced. Therefore, residual welding stress and distortion can be controlled and reduced. However, effects of reducing welding distortion are different with the changes of constrainment of clamps on weld zone. The residual longitudinal flexibility in aluminum alloy thin plate can be controlled in the range of 1 mm.