Stress Relief and Material Properties Improvement Through Vibration VS. Common Thermal Method

The goal of this study is investigating reduction of residual stresses from welding carbon steel plates through vibration stress relief method vs. thermal method. In order to carry out the required experimental tests, carbon steel plates were welded together under specific conditions as samples. Some of the samples were vibration stress relieved, some were thermal stress relieved while the rest remained without any stress relief operation. Several destructive and non-destructive tests were performed on all the stress relieved and non-relieved specimens and the data obtained from these tests were compared in order to reach the optimum vibration effect on stress relieved welded joints. The results attained for vibration method indicated an acceptable amount of reduction of residual stresses in the joints. In addition, some improvements in mechanical properties achieved vibration stress relief method were used.