EFFECT OF GEOMETRIC AND WELDING CONDITIONS ON THROUGH-THICKNESS RESIDUAL STRESS

ABSTRACT Recently, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of core internals and/or recirculation pipes of austenite stainless steel (SUS316L) has been observed. SCC is considered to occur and progress at near the inner surface of the welding zone in buttwelded pipes, because of the tensile residual stress introduced by welding. In present work, three-dimensional and axisymmetric thermo-elastic-plastic finite element analysis have been carried out, in order to clarify the effect of geometric and welding conditions in circumferential welding zone on the residual stress. In particular, butt-welding joints of SUS316L-pipes have been examined. The residual stress was simulated by three-dimensional and axially symmetric models and the results were compared and discussed in detail