Residual stress measurement in an extra thick multi-pass weld using initial stress integrated inherent strain method

•The initial stress generated during steel manufacturing should be considered for inherent strain method.•The proposed models of inherent strain distribution reproduced the initial stress well.•Inherent strain method was a reliable method for residual stress measurements.

Residual stresses existing in a multi-pass butt joint with a thickness of 70 mm, using a flux-cored arc welding process, were measured by an inherent strain method (ISM). Since such a thick plate before welding contains a large amount of initial residual stresses (−300 to +100 MPa), the initial stresses were integrated with conventional ISM in order to determine the total residual stresses in a welded joint. Two methods named as initial stress integrated ISM and initial inherent strain integrated ISM were suggested for the consideration of the initial stress distributions through the thickness of base plates. The results show that there is a significant difference between the integrated ISM with initial stresses or initial inherent strain and the conventional ISM without initial stresses. The residual stresses measured by any of the initial stress integrated ISM and initial inherent strain integrated ISM agreed well with the neutron diffraction measurement. Thus, the proposed initial stress integrated ISM is a proper destructive measurement method in the case of thick weld joints.