[1] JIAO Haihan, JIN Hui, ZHENG Rongkun, FAN Yongchun, et al. Numerical simulation of the effects of post-weld heat treatment on residual stresses in G20Mn5 cast steel welded joints [J]. Journal of Southeast University (English Edition), 2026, 42 (3): 329-336. [doi:10.3969/j.issn.1003-7985.2026.03.006]

Copy

Numerical simulation of the effects of post-weld heat treatment on residual stresses in G20Mn5 cast steel welded joints()

焊后热处理对G20Mn5铸钢焊接接头残余应力影响的数值模拟

Journal of Southeast University (English Edition)[ISSN:1003-7985/CN:32-1325/N]

Volumn:

42

Issue:

2026 3

Page:

329-336

Research Field:

Materials Sciences and Engineering

Publishing date:

2026-09-06

Info

Title:

Numerical simulation of the effects of post-weld heat treatment on residual stresses in G20Mn5 cast steel welded joints

焊后热处理对G20Mn5铸钢焊接接头残余应力影响的数值模拟

Author(s):

JIAO Haihan^1,2, JIN Hui^1,2, ZHENG Rongkun³, FAN Yongchun³, LIU Donghua³

1.School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
2.Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Engineering Mechanics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
3.China Energy Engineering GroupGuangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, China

焦海涵^1,2, 靳慧^1,2, 郑荣坤³, 范永春³, 刘东华³

1.东南大学土木工程学院, 南京 211189
2.东南大学江苏省工程力学分析重点实验室, 南京 211189
3.中国能源建设集团广东省电力设计研究院有限公司, 广州 510700

Keywords:

cast steel welded joints;  welding residual stresses;  post-weld heat treatment;  numerical simulation;  creep effect

铸钢焊接接头;  焊接残余应力;  焊后热处理;  数值模拟;  蠕变效应

PACS:

TG404

DOI:

10.3969/j.issn.1003-7985.2026.03.006

Abstract:

Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) is widely used to mitigate residual stresses (RSs) in welded steel structures. However, existing studies have often reported PWHT outcomes without providing detailed mechanistic analyses of stress evolution during the thermal cycle, particularly for geometrically complex cast steel joints. To address this gap, this study investigated the G20Mn5-Q355 cast steel girth butt weld, employing a numerical simulation to dissect the RS evolution throughout the PWHT process. The model, validated against a five-pass arc welding procedure and code-compliant PWHT parameters, revealed that PWHT reduces peak axial and hoop RS by over 90%. The key innovative finding was that stress relaxation was highly stage-dependent—the heating stage alone accounted for nearly 75% of the total reduction, driven by material softening and creep effects. Furthermore, parameter analysis demonstrated that the holding temperature predominantly controls the final extent of RS reduction, whereas the heating rate influences the rate of relaxation. These insights offer a fundamental understanding of the PWHT mechanism and provide guidance for optimizing industrial procedures by prioritizing heating stage parameters to enhance efficiency.

焊后热处理(PWHT)可以有效地减轻钢结构焊接接头中的残余应力(RS),然而现有研究通常关注焊后热处理的最终结果,缺少对热循环过程中应力演变的详细机制分析,特别是对于几何形状复杂的铸钢接头。针对这一问题,本研究以G20Mn5-Q355铸钢接头环向对接焊缝为研究对象,利用数值模拟方法,分析了焊后热处理过程中残余应力的演化规律。焊接过程包括5道电弧焊,焊后热处理参数按照相关规范确定。结果表明:焊后热处理可将轴向和环向残余应力峰值降低90%以上;应力松弛主要发生在加热阶段,占总减小量的近75%,由材料软化和蠕变效应驱动。对工艺参数的分析表明,残余应力的消减程度主要受焊后热处理温度的影响,而消减速率受加热速率的影响。以上结论明确了焊后热处理对残余应力的消减机制,并建议优先考虑升高热处理温度来提高效率,为相关工艺优化提供了参考。

References:

[1]WEI Z Z, JIN H, CHEN G L. Traction structural stress analysis of fatigue behaviors of girth butt weld within welded cast steel joints[J]. International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 2020, 179: 104027.
[2]YAN H D, JIN H. Micropores in G20Mn5N cast steel and their influence on stress distribution[J]. Journal of Southeast University (English Edition), 2024, 40 (3): 286-294.
[3]SONSINO C M, UMBACH R. Hybrid design concept using high-strength cast steel inserts for tubular joints of offshore structures[J]. Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, 1998, 120(1): 10-19.
[4]ZHANG Q Y, WANG J C. Accurate evaluation on residual stress considering solid-state phase transformation and initial stress in thick weld[J]. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 2022, 236(17): 9661-9676.
[5]LI D, CHEN Y Q, WANG J, et al. Online detection of welding pore defects in steel bridge decks based on acoustic emission[J]. Journal of Southeast University (Natural Science Edition), 2024, 54(2): 285-293. (in Chinese)
[6]LIU J F, CHENG Y F, JING X W, et al. Prediction and optimization method for welding quality of components in ship construction[J]. Scientific Reports, 2024, 14: 9353.
[7]TARAPHDAR P K, KUMAR R, GIRI A, et al. Residual stress distribution in thick double-V butt welds with varying groove configuration, restraints and mechanical tensioning[J]. Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 2021, 68: 1405-1417.
[8]QIANG B, XIE Y J, LEI D, et al. Welding deformation prediction and process optimization for the central anchor chamber in steel bridge tower[J]. Journal of Southeast University (Natural Science Edition) , 2025, 55 (2): 459-467. (in Chinese)
[9]WANG B, ZHOU L, CAO Y S, et al. Analysis of residual stress relief for Ti62A alloy welded joints by post weld heat treatment considering creep effect[J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2023, 24: 7462-7474.
[10]SOCIETY A W, YANG Y-P. Recent advances in the prediction of weld residual stress and distortion-part 2[J]. Welding Journal, 2021, 100(6): 193-205.
[11]CHUANG T C, LO Y L, TRAN H C, et al. Optimization of butt-joint laser welding parameters for elimination of angular distortion using high-fidelity simulations and Machine learning[J]. Optics & Laser Technology, 2023, 167: 109566.
[12]COULES H E, COLEGROVE P, COZZOLINO L D, et al. High pressure rolling of low carbon steel weld seams: Part 1—Effects on mechanical properties and microstructure[J]. Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, 2013, 18(1): 76-83.
[13]LI X Y, JIANG Y, WU K F, et al. Effects of pre-tempering on the microstructure, hardness and impact toughness of the 2. 25Cr-1Mo-0. 25V heat-resistant steel weld metal[J]. International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 2021, 193: 104455.
[14]FOEHRENBACH J, HARDENACKE V, FARAJIAN M. High frequency mechanical impact treatment (HFMI) for the fatigue improvement: Numerical and experimental investigations to describe the condition in the surface layer[J]. Welding in the World, 2016, 60(4): 749-755.
[15]LEE C H, CHANG K H. Prediction of residual stresses in high strength carbon steel pipe weld considering solid-state phase transformation effects[J]. Computers & Structures, 2011, 89(1/2): 256-265.
[16]BORZABADI FARAHANI E, SOBHANI ARAGH B, MANSUR W J. Three-dimensional finite element modelling of welding residual stresses of medium carbon steel pipes with consideration of solid-state austenite martensite transformation and post-weld heat treatment[J]. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications, 2019, 233(11): 2352-2364.
[17]DONG P S, SONG S P, ZHANG J M. Analysis of residual stress relief mechanisms in post-weld heat treatment[J]. International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 2014, 122: 6-14.
[18]SADEGHI B, SHARIFI H, RAFIEI M, et al. Effects of post weld heat treatment on residual stress and mechanical properties of GTAW: The case of joining A537CL1 pressure vessel steel and A321 austenitic stainless steel[J]. Engineering Failure Analysis, 2018, 94: 396-406.
[19]ZHANG Y X, XIE J M, LUO Y. A uniformed calculation criterion on heat band width of local PWHT on welded joint with dissimilar thickness[J]. Metals, 2023, 13(6): 1100.
[20]MEENA P, ANANT R. On the interaction to thermal cycle curve and numerous theories of failure criteria for weld-induced residual stresses in AISI304 steel using element birth and death technique[J]. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 2024, 33(5): 2279-2297.
[21]CHEN G, GUO Q, LU Y. Residual stress analysis of girth butt weld in cast steel joints[J]. Progress in Steel Building Structures, 2016, 18: 25-33. (in Chinese)
[22]JIAO H H, JIN H. Developing a visual prediction program for residual stress in girth butt welds using GA-RBF neural network[J]. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2024, 131(3): 1615-1628.
[23]LU S, WANG H, DAI P, et al. Effect of creep on prediction accuracy and calculating efficiency of residual stress in post weld heat treatment[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2019, 55: 1581-1592.
[24]ANDRADE E N D. On the viscous flow in metals and allied phenomena[J]. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A, 1910, 84: 1-12.
[25]SHI H, HUANG A, LIU X, et al. Numerical simulation on influence of post-weld heat treatment on residual stress in 150 mm thick vessel steel plate[J]. Heat Treatment of Metals, 2024, 49: 62-67. (in Chinese)
[26]China Association for Engineering Construction Standardization. Technical specification for welding heat treatment of steel structure: CECS 330—2013[S]. Beijing: China Planning Press, 2013. (in Chinese)

Memo

Memo:

Received: 2025-08-08; Revised: 2025-10-21.
Biographies: JIAO Haihan (1997—), male, Ph.D.candidate; JIN Hui (corresponding author), female, doctor, professor, jinhui@seu.edu.cn.

Foundation items: The SEU Innovation Capability Enhancement Plan for Doctoral Students (No.CXJH_SEU 24115), Marine Economic Development of Guangdong Province (No.GDNRC [2022]25).
Citation: JIAO Haihan, JIN Hui, ZHENG Rongkun, et al. Numerical simulation of the effects of post-weld heat treatment on residual stresses in G20Mn5 cast steel welded joints[J]. Journal of Southeast University (English Edition), 2026, 42(3): 329-336. DOI: 10. 3969/j. issn. 1003-7985. 2026. 03. 006.

Common functions