RESIDUAL STRESS OF WELDED I SECTIONS FABRICATED FROM HIGH PERFORMANCE STEEL: EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION AND MODELLING

An experimental study was presented to investigate the magnitude and distribution of residual stresses i n welded I sections fabricated from a new type of high performance steel with high strength as well as improved fire and corrosion resistance.The residual stress of three I sections with various width-thickness ratios was measured by using sectioning method and more than 2000 original readings were obtained.The effects of width-thickness ratio and interaction of residual stress in the flange and web were clarified.It was found that compressive residual stress was strongly correlated with sectional dimensions, while tensile residual stress at the weld region or flange edge was less correlated with them.In addition, no interaction between the residual stress in the flange and web was identified.Based on the test results, a distribution model of residual stress was proposed which could well represent the experimental results.Finally, the magnitude of residual stresses in welded I sections fabricated from this new type of high performance steel was compared with that of high strength steel.