Abstract: “Welding is the primary joining technology used to make continuous pipelines in the industry. The thermal and mechanical loading in the process has a profound impact on the integrity of the pipeline over its service life. An accurate and thorough assessment is needed on the associated residual stress and its effect on the structural properties of the pipeline. 3D simulations of stress in girth welded pipe sections have been carried out using the Abaqus CAE software in two steps, the first being the thermal modelling with a moving hot spot and added mass whereas the second being the stress or mechanical analysis. In the Thermal Model, it was observed that the distribution of heat in the heat affected zone (HAZ) was maximal at the apex of the heat flux whereas minimum at the start and end points indicating that heat was trapped in the middle region which is responsible for the fluctuations in the heat distribution in these zones. Contour plots of these results further confirm same pattern”

Keywords: Weld , Girth Weld, Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), Thermal analysis, Stress and Pipeline (key words)