Direct measurement of the residual stresses near a 'boat-shaped' repair in a 20Â mm thick stainless steel tube butt weld

Neutron diffraction measurements have been performed to quantify directly the three-dimensional residual stress field in a stainless steel pipe girth weld containing a part-circumference weld repair. Adjacent to the repair, the measured through-wall axial stress profile was found to be membrane in character and of tensile magnitude equal to about 60% of the base metal 1% proof stress. The measurements show that the repair procedure substantially increased axial and hydrostatic components of residual stress in the neighbouring heat-affected zone.