Numerical and Experimental Comparison of the Relief of Residual Welding Stresses by Vibration and Thermal Treatment

Abstract During welding, the base metal undergoes non-uniform expansion and contraction due to the high heat input, resulting in internal stresses in the welded material. These stresses can cause complications such as distortions and cracks, leading to impaired function of the welded component. Heat and vibrational treatments are some of the methods used to relieve these stresses. In this study, the effectiveness of these treatments was evaluated through comparison of experimental and numerical results. The analysis revealed that residual stresses were in agreement at half of the measurement points, while the remaining half exhibited differences ranging from 0.6 to 8.2%. Furthermore, distortions were measured using a 3D scanner, and the largest angular distortion differed from the numerical calculation by 1.25°.