Minimizing distortion caused by welding, by sequencing optimization in a large steel panel

Increasingly, Welding is used in industry for assembled various products, such as ships, cars, trains and bridges. Welding distortion often results such as lack of accuracy during assembly and will have increases manufacturing costs. So, predict and reduce welding distortion is very important to improve the quality of welded structures.  In this study, firstly, a prediction method of welding distortion, which merges thermo-elastic-plastic finite element method (FEM) and large deformation elastic FEM based on inherent strain theory, was developed. Secondly, the inherent deformations of weld joints in a large thin plate panel structure were calculated using the thermo-elastic-plastic FEM and their specifications were also examined. Then, using the obtained inherent deformations, the usefulness of the proposed elastic FEM was demonstrated through the prediction of welding distortion in the large thin plate panel structures. Finally, the influences of welding sequence on distortion were investigated. The results of elastic analysis shows distortion in edges and interior parts of the panels, that can be reduced by changing welding sequence to symmetrical welding sequence.