Residual stress variation in a thick welded joint after ultrasonic impact treatment

The effects of ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) on the residual stress within a 45 mm-thick high-strength steel welded joint were investigated. The internal residual stresses after UIT was measured with contour method and compared with the as-welded stresses simulated by finite element method. The surface stresses were also measured by X-ray diffraction method and hole-drilling method to validate the simulation model. Results show that UIT introduces compressive stress layer in the weld zone and has the same effect on the longitudinal and transverse welding stresses; the interior stresses increase and demonstrate more uniform distribution after UIT; UIT would not affect the initial compressive stress presented far away from the weld zone.