Investigation of Residual Stresses and Distortion in Welded Pipe-Flange Joint of Different Classes

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Pipe and flange joints are commonly used in petrochemical, nuclear and process industries. Commonly, welding is used to make these joints which produces residual stresses and distortions. These stresses have detrimental effects on the structural integrity and service performance of the welded pipe joints. The objective of this study is to investigate the residual stresses and distortions during Gas Metal Arc Welding of pipe of schedule 40, nominal diameter 200 mm with different ANSI flanges of class numbers 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500. Welding parameters including: voltage, current and heat as inputs were selected based on the literature available. The behaviour of the flanges of different classes is also discussed. In addition, the finite element methodology presented, in this paper, can be helpful for developing welding procedures for a range of pipe flange welded joint sizes in order to control the residual stresses and deformations. This will lead to optimised performance during bolt up and operating conditions.

ABSTRAK: Paip dan sambungan flan biasanya digunakan dalam industri petrokimia, nuklear dan proses. Kimpalan menghasilkan tegasan sisa dan herotan, yang memberikan kesan yang merbahaya ke atas integriti struktur dan prestasi servis sambungan kimpalan paip. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji tegasan sisa dan herotan ketika kimpalan arka logam gas paip berjadual 40, diameter nominal 200mm dengan flan ANSI yang berbeza kelas # 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500, dan 2500. Parameter kimpalan termasuklah; voltan, arus dan haba input yang dipilih berdasarkan literatur sediada. Kelakuan flan yang berbeza kelas telah dibincangkan. Kaedah elemen finit yang dibentangkan adalah berguna dalam membangunkan prosedur kimpalan bagi julat saiz kimpalan flan paip unutk mengawal tegasan sisa dan canggaan i.e. bagi mengoptimakan prestasi ketika bolt up dan sedang beroperasi.                                                                 

KEYWORDS: finite element; residual stresses; distortion; welding; pipe-flange joint; different classes