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ResidualStressExperts
VEQTER is an engineering company providing excellence in the
measurement, analysis and management of residual stresses. We are
world leaders in our field and offer expertise on any aspect related to
residual stresses in engineering components and structures.

CaseStudy:SubmarineStructure
During the manufacture of this submarine a number of circular hull sections are
welded together to form the complete hull. Each hull section is comprised of a
number of curved metal sheets welded together and reinforced internally by
Tsection rings welded at regular intervals. The Tsection rings are manufactured
from a number of web and flange plates, plastically bent to form the correct
curvatureandagainweldedtogether.

For this investigation, the manufacturer was interested in the residual stresses
generated by the welds that attach the Tsection rings to the hull inner surface.
Therefore a small, straight, mockup Tsection was supplied by the manufacturer
for the measurement of residual stresses using the DeepHole Drilling technique.
Furthermore, upon the successful completion of the initial laboratory
measurement the manufacturer requested an onsite measurement be carried
outonafullscalesubmarinehullsection.

TofindouthowVEQTERcanhelpyoupleasecontactuson+44(0)117 992 7970or

usingexperts@veqter.co.uk

VEQTER Ltd. 8 Unicorn Business Park, Whitby Road, Bristol, BS4 4EX, UK
e experts@veqter.co.uk t +44 (0) 117 992 7970 w www.veqter.co.uk

VEQTER 500
Fig.3:ResidualstressesmeasuredintheTsectionmockup

Longitudinal

ResidualStressExperts 400 Transverse

300

Componentdesign:
200

ResidualAxialStress(MPa)
100

Themockupcomponentconsistedofawebandaflange 100

plate(i.e.excludingthehullplate)filletweldedtogether 200

to form a Tsection 1000mm

300

400
long, 255mm high and 140mm 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Distancethroughflangeplatefromweldtoe,mm

wide,seeFigure1.Themockup Fig.3:ResidualstressesmeasuredintheTsectionmockup
was manufactured to represent
600

a section of the reinforcement Longitudinal

500 Transverse
ringsweldedtotheinnersurface 400

ofthehull.

ResidualStress(MPa)
300

200

100

The fullscale component consisted of a circular hull 0

100
section with dimensions 2360mm long, 6600mm outer
200

diameter and average wall 0 5 10 15 20

Distancethroughflangeplatefromweldtoe,mm
25 30

thickness 31mm, see Figure

2. Welded to the inner
surface of the hull section
werefourTsectionrings.The
final weight of the
componentwas17tonnes.
Measurementlocation:
For both the mockup and fullscale applications the
measurement lines were through the flange and hull
platerespectively,atthetoeofthefilletweld,seeFigure.
These locations were chosen in order to measure the
residual stresses generated in the heataffected zone of
theflangeandhullmaterial.
Results:
TheresidualstressesmeasuredinthemockupTsection
andfullscalehullsectionarepresentedinFigures3and inFigure4areacombinationofweldingresidualstresses
4 respectively. The residual stresses are shown for the
directions longitudinal and transverse to the fillet weld
axis. The residual stresses are shown as functions of
depth through the flange/hull plate from the toe of the
Fig.4:Residualstressesmeasuredinthefullscalesection
Discusion:
When comparing the residual stress distributions from
the two components it can be seen that they both
display peak longitudinal and transverse tensile residual
stresses close to the weld toe. The differences between
theresidualstresses(longitudinalandtransverse)inthe
mockup Tsection and the fullscale hull section are
showninFigure5.
The difference residual stress distributions are 180
rotationallysymmetricaboutmiddepth.Thesymmetric,
oscillatory distributions are consistent with the residual
stressesgeneratedbyplasticallybendingthehullplateto
thecorrectcurvaturetoformthecircularhullsection.
Consequently,theresidualstressdistributionspresented
andplasticbendingresidualstresses.
200
Longitudinal
150 Transverse
100

filletweld.
ResidualStress(MPa)

50

50

100

150

200
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Distancethroughhulleplatefromweldtoe,mm

Fig.5:Estimatedresidualstressesarisingfrombendingthehullplate