Residual stress and strain in MIG butt welds in 5083-H321 aluminium: As-welded and fatigue cycled

This paper presents single-line residual stress profiles for 8 mm 5083-H321 aluminium plates joined by gas metal arc (MIG) welding. The data were obtained by synchrotron diffraction strain scanning. Weld metal stresses (up to ∼7 mm either side of the centreline) are quite scattered and unreliable because of the large epitaxial grain size in the fusion zone. Peak magnitude of the transverse stresses varies between +50 MPa (19% of parent plate proof strength) at the HAZ boundary to −150 MPa (57% of PP proof strength) at the weld centreline. Equivalent values for longitudinal stresses are +90 MPa (34% of PP proof strength) some 22 mm from the weld centreline to −120 MPa (45% of PP proof strength) at the weld centreline. Plate-to-plate variation in the as-welded transverse and longitudinal residual stress values across the weld toe region is around 40 MPa. The effect on residual stress and strain values of a sequence of applied fatigue loads was also considered and reported.