A new analytical model for predicting the welding deformation of large welded plates with equivalent moments

The efficient prediction of welding deformation is important for the deviation control of large welded structures. In this paper, an analytical model is proposed to predict the welding deformation of large aluminium alloy plates. The welding-induced equivalent moments are calculated based on the inherent strain of a small-scale welded plate. The large welded plate is regarded as a corner-supported plate subjected to the equivalent moments. The welding deformation of the large welded plate is analytically derived by using the reciprocal theorem of work, and is validated by the experimental data. The effect of heterogeneous weld properties and plate dimensions on the welding deformation is quantitatively discussed. The proposed model can facilitate the deformation prediction of large welded structures.