Predicting weld solidification cracks in multipass welds of SUS310 stainless steel

The driving forces to weld metal solidification cracks are simulated in multipass welds of a part of 5000 m3 storage tank which is made of SUS310 stainless steel in Chinese Daqing Oilfield. And dynamic thermal distributions and strain evolutions are analyzed with element rebirth finite element technique to control the process of filling metal step by step during multipass welding process. The simulated results show the distribution patterns of the driving force are similar to those of surface fusion welding. However, the driving force of first weld pass is larger than following weld passes and the driving force decreases gradually in company with welding processing. What is more important, this paper predicts the weld solidification cracks of a part of 5000 m3 storage tank under different welding conditions. The predicted results agree well with actual fabrication. Therefore, a reasonable welding procedure of 5000 m3 storage tank is put forward.