Ultrasonic Measurement of Residual Stresses inWeldedRailway Bridge

Author:  Y. KudryavtsevandJ. Kleiman and O. Gustcha
Source:  Integrity Testing Laboratory Inc.
Doc ID:  2008016
Year of Publication:  2008
Abstract:  
ABSTRACT The residual stresses have a significant effect on the process of the initiation and propagation of the fatigue cracks in welded elements. In this paper the results of the residual stress measurement in the zones of welded elements of the railway bridge span are presented. An ultrasonic method and portable computerized device for uni- and biaxial residual stress measurement were used in this investigation. The residual stresses were measured in the main wall of the bridge span near the ends of welded vertical attachments before and after application of improvement treatment, directed on the beneficial redistribution of the residual stresses. The computer simulation showed that such redistribution of the residual stresses cause a 45% increase in the limit stress range for this type of welded element. The dependency of the fatigue life of welded elements on the possible variations of the residual stress level is also analyzed.