Novel welding distortion analysis method for large welded structures using orthotropic thermal expansion coefficients

Abstract This paper proposes an effective numerical method to predict welding distortion for large welded structures. To distortions, inherent strain-based methods are computationally efficient and widely used in engineering fields. However, there some drawbacks such as the generation of undesirable longitudinal forces use vector-type input variables. Equivalent loads derived through finite element formulation considering orthotropic thermal expansion conditions. Unlike previous methods, proposed predicts transverse shrinkage angular accurately, removing forces. In addition, scalar-type variables employed, which results a convenient design procedure. The performance is verified various examples including complex