Crack Growth Behavior in Residual Stress Field in Vessel Type Structures

Detailed residual stress analysis was performed for a multi-pass butt weld, representing the middle butt-girth weld of a storage tank. The analysis procedures took into account representative welding parameters, joint detail, weld pass deposition sequence, as well as temperature-dependent properties. The predicted residual stresses were then considered in stress intensity factor calculations using a three-dimensional finite element alternating model for investigating crack growth behavior for both small elliptical surface and through-wall cracks