Residual stresses induced by electron beam welding in a 6061 aluminium alloy

Electron beam welding fusion line was performed on 6061-T6 aluminium plates. The thermal histories encountered in the heat affected zone were measured to calibrate a thermal finite elements model. This model has been used as entry parameter of a metallurgical model that predicts the precipitation dissolution induced softening, as well as residual elastic strains. Local deformations measured with a neutron diffraction experiment show a good agreement with the coupled modelling approach for all strain components and the “M” shaped residual strain curves, characteristic of age hardening alloys weld joints, is well reproduced.