Stress build-up in HSLA steel welds due to material behaviour

• An in-situ welding stress build-up analysis was achieved using a test facility.
• Welding stresses under restraint are affected by heat input and weld metal.
• High-strength filler metal may be beneficial for local and global welding stresses.
• Optimised welding stresses in HSLA steels need a proper heat control.

For the performance of high-strength steel welds by means of load bearing capacity and safety, the information about stress level and distribution due to welding is needed. The interaction between the filler material grade (strength) and heat input on the reaction stresses in high-strength steels, welded under defined restraint conditions were analysed. Butt welds were joined by a multilayer GMAW process in the Instrumented Restraint Cracking test facility (IRC-test). This test facility allowed a defined restraint and, simultaneously, an in-situ analysis of the reaction stresses while welding and cooling. The reaction force build-up of the weld tests showed a significant influence of the used filler materials according to the heat input. Higher strength filler material grades cause a decrease of the welding stresses compared to lower strength grades, if a low heat input is used. The different stress build-up is described in detail for the root welds, filler layers and subsequent cooling to ambient temperature. Residual stresses in the weld, HAZ and base material were measured in loaded and unloaded condition using the incremental hole drilling method.