Abstract. Today's efforts for lightweight design result in a growing application of high-strength structural steels from 960 MPa. In welded structures of these steels increased demands regarding component safety and a high elastic ratio should be considered. Hence, the prevention of an evolution of high weld-induced tensile residual stresses is required. Recent studies showed that component related restraint conditions of welds are able to elevate welding induced stresses to critical values, depending on material characteristics, the welding process and parameters. This work involves multi-axial welding loads as a consequence of the superposition of local residual stresses, global reaction stresses and moments, varying the welding parameters under different restraint conditions. The global welding loads are measured via GMA-weld tests in a special testing facility and via a DIC(Digital Image Correlation)-system in a slot weld. Local transverse residual stresses were analysed by means of X-ray diffraction. The application of a less amount of weld runs due to a modified welding parameters and welds seam configurations revealed as a beneficial approach to reduce welding loads in high-strength steels.
IntroductionIn modern steel constructions, e.g. mobile cranes, high-strength steels are required to ensure low selfweights. Besides higher ratios of lifting capacity to total weight of such constructions, higher energy and cost efficiencies are provided [1]. A series of high-strength base materials and filler metals was developed by the steel producers, recently. S960QL is one of the most important steel grades for the mobile crane industry. However, the design of welded structures and the welding process become more challenging with increasing material strength due to higher requirements for the component safety, higher elastic ratios and closer technological boundaries [2], for instance the cooling time from 800 °C to 500 °C (Δt 8/5 -cooling time). Besides ensuring metallurgical requirements by keeping a defined working range of heat control, high tensile residual stresses should be avoided. These stresses are contributors for crack initiation and may be detrimental for the lifetime, load capacity and component safety [3].Several recent numerical and experimental studies revealed that loads and stresses due to welding are affected by an interaction of the welding parameters, the applied materials and the restraint, which is subjected to the design of the weld [4][5][6][7][8]. Regarding the influence of a hindered shrinkage of a weldment, the residual stress (σ rs ) formation should be differentiated into a local and a global scope. Following Fig. 1a, local restraint stresses σ loc develop due to inhomogeneous volume changes in the weld and HAZ. They are subjected to the material behaviour and welding process. If the weld is externally restrained, these local stresses are superimposed globally by normal reaction stresses σ y due to the hindered lateral shrinkage ∆l of the component; see Fig. 1b. As a rule, component ...