Austenitizing Temperature Effects on the Martensitic Transformation and its Influence on Simulated Welding Residual Stresses in a Microalloyed-Steel

This study focused on the effects of different peak (austenitizing) temperatures (T p ) over the martensite start temperature (M s ) and its influence on the final residual stresses after welding simulation. For this purpose, the expansion coefficients obtained through physical (dilatometric) simulations of a high-strength low-alloy steel were considered for three peak temperatures: 1300 °C, 1150 °C, and 920 °C and a cooling rate of 25 °C/s. Aiming at clarifying the physical phenomenon behind GTAW welding, one carried out nonlinear transient thermomechanical finite-element (FE) analyses to reconstitute the welding process and simulate the subsequent formation of residual stresses in the HAZ. Once the heat source simulation was calibrated, four material models were created, one for each T p , and a fourth model considering a constant expansion coefficient, without considering the martensite transformation for comparison. A Three-bar model was evaluated to isolate the effects of T p (M s ) in the residual stresses. A composite plate model was also considered, in which the sheet HAZ was subdivided according to the reached peak temperature, and the respective material models were applied. The results show the importance of martensite transformation on the welding-induced residual stress and a clear trend of decreasing tensions with lowering the T p , especially over HAZ.