Abstract: Three-dimensional finite element analysis of welding stress-strain in a girth-butt welded pipe is presented, with a nonlinear FE code ADIAN. The pipe material is low-carbon steel. The thermo-physical and mechanical properties of material depend on temperature. The element birth facility in ADINA is used to model the continuous deposition of filler material into the groove. In the girth-welded pipes, axial residual stresses in the weld vicinity are tensile on inner surface and compressive on outer surface. Hoop residual stresses in the weld vicinity are tensile on inner surface and compressive on outer surface. Hoop residual stresses in the weld vicinity are tensile in both inner and outer surfaces. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental measurements. It is show that FEM can be capable of predicting the welding residual stresses in girth-butt welded pipes effectively.

Key words: Finite element method, Girth welded pipes, Welding residual stress