Robustness analyses of numerical simulation of fusion welding NeT-TG1 application: “Single weld-bead-on-plate”

This study contributes to the NeT-TG1 European Network formed in 2002. The aim of this study is to predict, by numerical simulation, the residual stresses generated in a test plate by the fusion welding process. The experiment consisted in the deposit of a weld bead along the longitudinal centre-line of an austenitic 316L plate using an automatic Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process with 316L filler material. During and after thermal cycle, a large quantity of measurement data is obtained that serve to develop a comparison with the results of different numerical models. The comparative thermal and mechanical analysis allows assessment for the general ability of the numerical models to describe the structural behaviour. The importance of the heat-input rate and material characteristics is also investigated. The residual stresses were predicted by the finite element method using the program Code_Aster of EDF and SYSWELD of ESI-GROUP. Finally the numerical results are validated by comparison with experimentally measured data.