Predicting the effects of welding sequence and geometric parameters on welding distortion of Al5083 stiffened plates

Owing to the complex nature of the welding process as well as the time and cost required to fit distorted assemblies, prediction of welding distortion is of pivotal importance in the modern manufacturing industry. In the present study, an elastic FE analysis based on inherent deformation theory was conducted to predict welding distortion in Al5083 stiffened plates widely used in marine structures. Furthermore, the effects of welding sequence and geometric parameters on the final welding distortion were investigated. The simulation results were successfully validated by comparison with experiments. It was shown that welding sequence had significant effect on the magnitude and mode of distortion. The optimum welding sequence was determined, which reduced the welding distortion of Al5083 stiffened plates to an acceptable level. The results indicated that increasing the flange thickness, flange width and web thickness decreased the welding distortion, the thickness of the flange being the most influential parameter. However, the height of the web was found to have almost no effect on the final welding distortion.

کلیدواژه ها:

Welding distortion ، Elastic FE analysis ، Inherent deformation theory ، Al5083 ، Welding sequence ، Geometric parameters